Richard Branson dominates the world with the Virgin Brand, with business ventures on 6 of our 7 continents. It’s hardly surprising that Branson is now making an entrance into the alternative fuel sector. He is set to invest around $1billion into research and development of a new type of alternative fuel, along with opening ethanol plants and solar power stations.

The Virgin air network uses over 700 million gallons of fuel each year, Branson stated:

“I hope that over the next 5 to 6 years we can replace some or all of that (with ethanol).”

Most people either love him or loathe him, and even if you feel that Virgin Fuel is another money grabbing venture for Virgin, you have to praise his efforts for tackling our global warming problem.

The BBC report that alternative fuels have now graced the floors of the London Stockmarket. Alternative Fuel Companies are now listing on the Stock Market to generate funds for future developments. Fossil Fuels have always been our number one, however supply is depleting, prices are soring and climate change is happening.

There is a massive space arising in the market for alternative fuels, LPG and Biodiesel are two solutions to fossil fuel. There is a mass supply of LPG in the UK, it’s cheap and produces much less harmful emissions into our atmosphere. Biodiesel again is less harmful to our environment.

In regards to the benefits of alternative fuels, the availability and investiment into new developments, the BBC commented that:

“Motorists who feel a pang of guilt every time they fill their tanks with pollutant-laden fossil fuels may soon find that they no longer have an excuse for not switching to cleaner alternatives.”

Air pollution in London is the worst in the UK despite Congestion Charging and Euro Emission Standards. The Mayor of London has once again called for a step up on regulations in our countries capital and is now cracking down on lorries, HGV’s and coach drivers. Starting from Feburary 2008 lorries built after 2001 without exhaust filters stand to face fines up to £1000. This is a huge expense to the haulage industry with an estimated £390million to fit over 60,000vehicles with emission traps to meet the air quality standard. However, with air pollution causing 1,000deaths a year in London alone, the industry needs to take a step towards improving emissions and smog levels. Ken Livingstone firming believes that London can correct it’s poor air quality:

“The proposed Low Emission Zone is the most effective way of quickly reducing pollutants that are among the most harmful to human health. It will make London one of the first cities in the world to have taken such a radical step to tackle air pollution and safeguard our environment.”

From 2008 drivers will need to sit a green exam to pass their driving test. This is to encourage fuel-efficient driving, reduce pollution emissions, save money on fuel bills and make driving safer. The eco-test will include accelerating and braking more gently, smoother gear changes, and a quiz (click here to take one). Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling wants eco-driving to become as natural as checking your mirrors. With 700,000 people passing their test in 2004, the eco-test should educate a new generation of drivers to drive much more efficiently.
Fuel prices of Petrol and Diesel are expected to hit £1 and although fuel-efficient drivers will still have to pay this (unless you convert to LPG, then you’ll only pay 46.9p per litre!) they will earn savings of around £2 per week.

The Observer offers some eco-driving tips, including:

• Driving more smoothly
• Don’t drive at high speed
• Anticipate breaking and stopping
• Change gear around 1,500-2,500 revs
• Turn off your engine if you are stopping for more than a minute
• Check your tire pressure regularly
• Drive a more efficient car, or why not convert to LPG?

Portugal and The Netherlands have adopted a eco-car registration tax scheme to encourage more people to buy low-emission car models, reports T&E, the European Federation for Transport and Environment. Cars have been divided into seven classes based on CO2 emission, fuel consumption and efficiency. Hybrid cars can give owners a €6000 discount when first bought in The Netherlands, and save the Portuguese buyers 40% off their registration tax.

Italy also rewards low CO2 emission vehicles. Italy has restrictions in place for petrol and diesel cars, that LPG cars are exempt from, allowing LPG cars to operate during the restricted ’smog periods’ and have an excise tax advantage over petrol and diesel.

T&E has also teamed up with Renault, Toyota, and the British and Dutch Government to hold a one-day press conferencee in September to develop more processes to bring more fuel-efficient cars to Europe.

Lewis Booth asked for cooperation from the motor industry to be more responsible and cut down on carbon emissions during his keynote speech at the British Motor Show this week. He highlighted the improvements that the car industry is making with new technologies and developments, and addressed the Government’s efforts with balanced taxes in the UK. Booth also argued that a combination of different automotive and fuel technologies will be a key factor in reducing CO2 emissions and combating climate change.

Ford are setting an example in the motor industry in terms of alternative fuel strategies. The short-term plan is to introduce ethanol flex fuel in current models and encourage economical driving through gear-shift indicators. Fuelture has already reported on Ford’s Green Cars and hybrid plug-ins. Ford teamed up with Terrapass in the US to provide customers with a way of offsetting the CO2 emissions. Customers enrol vehicle with Terrapass, which costs US$50. This money is invested in technologies that offset CO2 emissions, allowing customers to make a positive change to the environment and in turn benefiting society.

How are your CO2 emissions damaging the environment? Do you know how many trees it would take to offset your car journey’s? Click here to calculate your emissions and offset strategies.

Tomorrow is the first day of the British Motor Show in the London Docklands. This year the Motor Show is showing it’s “Green Credentials” and exhibiting LPG cars along with electric, hybrid, bio-fuel and diesel technologies. Two all-electric cars will be launched along with, a diesel stop-start engine that automatically switches off in traffic and flexi-fuel cars. In addition to showing alternative cars, the show has introduced a green-label display for all cars to show the carbon emissions, allowing consumers to make comparisons on emissions as well as performance and cost.

The show is also challenging Ford’s most senior executive, Lewis Booth to give a keynote speech on climate change. The speach will be given today to launch the 2006 Show.

Watch the Fuelture Blog for updates and news about the 2006 British Motor Show.

Alternative energy is fuelling a sailing boat in London’s Hyde Park. The Serpentine Solar Shuttle may not be the fasted boat, however it is a novel concept that will attract a few tourists over the summer months. Developers of the Solar Shuttle hope that other means of solar-powered transport will now hit Britain. The solar boats cost nothing to fuel, produce no carbon emissions, and store energy so they can run in rainy weather. The Serpentine has even attracted press attention from the US; CBS News exclaim, “Britain’s largest solar-powered boat makes up in scientific advancement what it lacks in speed.”

Although the Solar Shuttle is the first boat running on solar-power in Britain; Canada, Germany, Italy and many other countries across Europe have solar-boats sailing in their waters. Nelson Kruschandl aims to travel around the world in a solar-powered boat challenge set by Solar Navigator. The trip is set to be completed in 80days or less, Kruschandl’s team is facing a group of Swiss/French sailors in the quest of the first solar-powered Sail boat to circle the globe.

The BBC reports today that Ford are planning to invest £1bn in green-cars. Ford believes that it’s network of 9,500 engineers are capable of developing a car that achieves 70 miles to the gallon and has reduced carbon emissions. The research will be concentrated to a wide range of car engines, including Hybrid cars, Diesel engines, petrol and micro-hybrid’s along with other alternative fuel engines (LPG?).

The investment was praised by the BBC who feel that car manufacturers are struggling to produce cost effective cars and products in today’s market. Having a car is an expensive ordeal, and more companies should be investing in alternative products, Fuelture would like to see more manufacturers offering LPG cars and other alternative fuelled vehicles.

The Green Car Congress reported this week that the mayor of London, Ken Livingston, is urging the congestion charging scheme to reward cars with low carbon emissions and increase charges for high carbon emission cars, encouraging more drivers to switch to LPG gas. Drivers are currently paying £8 per day to drive in the zone; the mayor would like to see this rate proportional to carbon emissions with vehicles in band G paying around £25 per day.
The congestion charging scheme is producing results with total traffic in the zone reduced by 15%-18%, congestion down by 30% and emissions, including PM10 and NOx down by 12%. LPG cars produce substantially less emissions than diesel and petrol, therefore LPG drivers that are not on the Power Shift Register will still be rewarded for their eco-friendly cars.

This is great news for LPG drivers, however not everyone is happy about these proposed changes. The Forum of Private Business (FPB) represents 25,000 UK based businesses and is currently the voice for Businesses who support less pollution but are sacrificing their livelihood in the process with the already steep congestion charge.