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Jon Excell
Editor
Oil fears should spur low-carbon innovation
When, last week The Engineer reported on a new fast charging system for electric vehicles the technology was alternately hailed as “fatuous nonsense masquerading as green technology” and “just the type of thing the government should be investing in .” Confirmation, if any were needed, that few topics divide the opinion of Engineer readers like electric vehicles.
But with a host of factors conspiring to drive up oil prices, and global uncertainty over key oil producing regions growing, the case for electric and hydrogen powered vehicles is growing stronger by the week.
At home, yesterday’s news that the Coryton oil refinery in Essex, the UK’s largest independent oil refinery, has gone into administration, is perhaps the latest expression of the industry’s malaise.
The refinery provides a tenth of the country’s total fuel production and the shutdown has sparked panic fuel buying across some parts of the South-East and prompted fears that diesel prices could reach a record high. The news follows Shell’s announcement, earlier this month, that it’s to close its main UK R&D base in Thornton, Cheshire, and adds to a general feeling of uncertainty that surrounds the UK oil industry.
Meanwhile, on the global stage, there are plenty of reminders of the uncomfortably tangled relationship between fuel supply and fragile geo-politics. The EU’s imposition of oil sanctions on Iran (in response to that country’s nuclear activities) has cut-off one of Europe’s major sources of crude whilst the announcement that the commercial production of oil will soon begin off the Falkland Islands is inflaming old tensions between the UK and Argentina.
Against this uncertain backdrop the development of low carbon vehicles looks less an exercise in noble environmental intentions and more the compelling basis of a major UK industry - which is, unsurprisingly, how it’s viewed by a host of automotive OEMs including Nissan, Renault and BMW.
Wherever you stand on the ever-emotive low carbon vehicle debate, it seems inevitable that drivers will be in for some painful moments at the petrol pumps over the coming months and years. The flip-side to this is that growing uncertainty in the oil industry should provide a spur for innovation in a sector that’s likely to become increasingly important to the UK.
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Readers' comments (14)
Anonymous | 25 Jan 2012 12:53 pm
How do you charge up without a use of a garage at home?
I personaly do not want to wait 1-2 hours at an Esso or Little Chef.
We need a full charge in 1-2 minutes.
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Mark Preston | 25 Jan 2012 12:55 pm
One aspect of electric vehicles that I have not seen discussed is the issue of heating of the car and de-misting the windows in winter. Surely if this is to be done using electricity then it will for-shorten the battery life severely. If it is to be done by any other means then the car isn't electric. So that electric car is only any good in temperate climes then?
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Editor's comments | 25 Jan 2012 12:55 pm
Take a look at our blog from last winter, which addresses this point http://www.theengineer.co.uk/blog/let-it-snow-let-it-snow-let-it-snow/1006399.article
Anonymous | 25 Jan 2012 1:13 pm
Does it seem sensible to suggest that the hydrogen/electric breakthrough we need could come from China or India? They have little if any natural reserves of oil and as countries that are developing new technologies seem to have a greater incentive than the old countries who have always used oil and have interests in preserving the status quo.
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Carolynne Knight | 25 Jan 2012 1:45 pm
Electric cars, bio-fuels, the question should always be:
"Where does the energy come from?"
Is the root source low-carbon, is it cost-effective, and (in the case of bio-fuels) is it detracting from a valuabe food resource?
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Chris Roberts | 25 Jan 2012 2:18 pm
If, as we are told, hydrogen is one of the most plentyful substances on the planet and easy to make from other materials, why oh why aren't we doing more to reduce the reliance on foreign countries to play cat and mouse with us and developing both our own oilfields and the hydrogen and electric vehicles and telling the Iranians and other oil producers, who have no other industries, where to put their oil?
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Tim Hadland | 25 Jan 2012 2:34 pm
In answer the first comment....Lets say you charge your Tesla model S with up to its max 300 mile range overnight at your home roadside charge point (I hope that does happen for those without a drive or garage) On a long drive of 200 miles or so then surely you should be taking an hours break at some point? At that point a fast charger will be ideal. I think a compromise between range of future EVs and charging infastructure will be made at some point. I guess in line with the average family car fuel tank range - 400 miles?
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Steve Greatwood | 25 Jan 2012 2:53 pm
I worked on hybrid vehicles in the 70's, and the main failing was batteries, the way forward is still hybrid. If you use a diesel running on renewable bio-fuels at an optimum speed to top up acceleration and heating usage, this would answers the previous comments.
The storage of energy is the key and the amount of time to give a full recharge. The 20 mins recharge time currently being announced for Little Chef type applications is a radical step forward. But this really should not affect the hybrid based solution, as you have self-sufficiency on-board.
Hydrogen & fuel cell based solutions carry too many risks to keep everyday reliability controlled, as who would be able to service them?
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Anonymous | 25 Jan 2012 6:30 pm
EV & Battery technlogy has moved by a HUGE factor. Now by simply appying the brakes you will be charging the battery. Cars like the Ampera soon to hit the UK, are FULL electric drive , but also have petrol engine to charge & or drive for non stop travel. Its the same as a std car. Look out for Volvo's EV diesel plug in.
these cars are ready to go Very soon.
'Game Changers' & 'Mind Changers'
Fuel anxiety is not an issue
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Bryan Leyland | 25 Jan 2012 8:54 pm
Consumers do not like electric cars. The number being purchased hugely below expectations. It is, yet again, another example of government “picking winners".
The reality is that the world has more energy resources available to it now than it has had in the past.
One example is Atomised Refined Coal developed in Australia that cleans coal using hydrogen fluoride that turns all the ash into valuable byproducts. This technology alone, would change the energy geopolitics of the
world.
Another example is clathrates–methane ice frozen on the seabed. A truly gigantic resource only needing a technological advance.
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Melchor Duran | 25 Jan 2012 9:37 pm
LIQUID ELECTRODE
I keep saying that an extremely interesting way to go in battery R&D is by using liquid or semiliquid electrodes.
There are some types of these batteries already in operation for special cases as in the US Army where very fast charging is important.
But the Technology is in its infancy.
You get to a refueling station, discharge the spent electrode through a hose and charge fresh electrode through another hose, (Plus in some cases the spent electrolite). Time of refueling : The same as with gasoline.
One advantage is that the “Recharging of the electrodes is made in a Factory that can be installed close to a renewable energy Power Plant.
The cost of trucking the electrodes (And electrolite) to your local refueling station is similar than with gasoline.
Another extremely important advantage is that the battery life is nearly unlimited.
When people discuss about the cost of batteries, usually the cost of replacement is not included in the equation. Not only monetary cost but cost to the Environment
I raise my humble voice in favor of more R&D in this subject.
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