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- GTP_Famine
This is the discussion thread for an article on GTPlanet:
Driving Classic Convertibles on the UK’s Longest Road Route With Fossil-Free Fuels
- Thread starter Famine
- 24 comments
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- 17,065
- United Kingdom
John O'Groats is always a significant anti-climax, then you've got the drive home. I think I prefer JOGLE to LEJOG.
- 36,629
- Scotland
- GTP_daan
Depends where you're driving home to, but then you've got the issue of the start being at the other end of the country.
- 17,065
- United Kingdom
Yeah, the mileage is the same one way or the other, but I think JOG feels a lot further from civilisation than Land's End.
My fondest memory of the northern tip was during a road trip around the coastline of the whole country, at which point it was neither a start or an end, just the two thirds mark.
- 40
- United Kingdom
- Seagullbert
Looks like a new scapes and teased car update. 🤣
- 40
- United Kingdom
- Seagullbert
"a direct distance by road of 837 miles" for anyone Stateside, just around the corner
- 86,655
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
And we cruised most of it at 70mph or, as Det. Sgt. John Bunnell (Ret) would say, "these maniacs screamed along at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, risking life and limb with their crazy antics".
- 40
- United Kingdom
- Seagullbert
- 86,655
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
To be fair, the only bad part was in the Highlands where there was some resurfacing work.
My colleague fell asleep and missed the M4 entirely (in the Mk2!) and just above Northampton, and didn't wake up until the Sheffield Parkway. I made all my lane changes between the cats' eyes
- 1,709
- Singapore
- XSquareStickIt
Those shots look like they came right out of GT7's Scapes... except we for some weird reason still don't have an NB or NC.
Did the cars need any modifications to run on Sustain fuels? Or can Sustain just be pumped into a regular combustion car as–is?
Did the cars need any modifications to run on Sustain fuels? Or can Sustain just be pumped into a regular combustion car as–is?
- 86,655
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- GTP_Famine
Nothing at all, just straight in the tank.
MagpieRacer
Premium
- 17,274
- Wymondham, Norfolk
- Seagull_Racer
Enjoyable read, makes me want to jump in my car and go for a long drive.
What are Sustains next steps? How does it become a mainstream option and viable alternative to fossil fuels?
What are Sustains next steps? How does it become a mainstream option and viable alternative to fossil fuels?
- 1,709
- Singapore
- XSquareStickIt
Is this photo from the same trip? It seems you guys became downloadable wallpapers for Club Mazda members.
- 86,655
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- GTP_Famine
- 8,704
This was a great article, and it's an important subject too!
I think these E-fuels are going to be quite a lot more significant than it might at first seem. Not just for "classic" vehicles. I'm fascinated by the Japanese manufacturers' apparent approach to de-carbonising personal transport, as compared with the European and US approaches. They are looking very broadly and taking an engineering-first approach.
That in combination with the rapid European capitulation on the emotionally-driven "all-electric by 2030" campaign and the outright begging from industry to not put all their eggs in one basket perhaps highlights that this could be a very tricky transition (or that the current push for EVs is just yet another cynical consumerist cash-in).
Obviously the "petrol from thin air" route is going to be pushed in the UK, as it was pioneered here easily 20 years ago and it's the best suited to our climate and space limitations. It's really quite impressive and highlights how good membrane technology is these days, but I don't think it's good at scale because of its dependence on electricity - Porsche may well prove me wrong.
I've been saying for years that carbon neutral fuels from algae would be ideal, especially in hot and arid areas, as long as the algae doesn't escape! Fuel from "waste" would only make up the difference, at best, at least in the short term - the variable (and various) feedstocks and potential for easily poisoning entire batches make it tricky. It is the ideal case we should be aiming for, though.
Bio-butanol looks promising as an almost-direct petrol-substitute that burns cleaner; it's not nearly as "interactive" as lower alcohols like ethanol and methanol, but may not be suitable for classics. It is suitable for certain (actually) waste feedstocks, too, but the "easy" crop routes could make it as controversial as the first round of bio-fuels.
Given that for many people full electrification is either unattractive (possibly even on environmental grounds) or just financially infeasible, a stop gap that allows us to "up-cycle" our existing vehicles to become effectively carbon negative (versus buying a new car) is going to be invaluable. It's the sensible long-term play for industry and "consumer" alike.
I think these E-fuels are going to be quite a lot more significant than it might at first seem. Not just for "classic" vehicles. I'm fascinated by the Japanese manufacturers' apparent approach to de-carbonising personal transport, as compared with the European and US approaches. They are looking very broadly and taking an engineering-first approach.
That in combination with the rapid European capitulation on the emotionally-driven "all-electric by 2030" campaign and the outright begging from industry to not put all their eggs in one basket perhaps highlights that this could be a very tricky transition (or that the current push for EVs is just yet another cynical consumerist cash-in).
Obviously the "petrol from thin air" route is going to be pushed in the UK, as it was pioneered here easily 20 years ago and it's the best suited to our climate and space limitations. It's really quite impressive and highlights how good membrane technology is these days, but I don't think it's good at scale because of its dependence on electricity - Porsche may well prove me wrong.
I've been saying for years that carbon neutral fuels from algae would be ideal, especially in hot and arid areas, as long as the algae doesn't escape! Fuel from "waste" would only make up the difference, at best, at least in the short term - the variable (and various) feedstocks and potential for easily poisoning entire batches make it tricky. It is the ideal case we should be aiming for, though.
Bio-butanol looks promising as an almost-direct petrol-substitute that burns cleaner; it's not nearly as "interactive" as lower alcohols like ethanol and methanol, but may not be suitable for classics. It is suitable for certain (actually) waste feedstocks, too, but the "easy" crop routes could make it as controversial as the first round of bio-fuels.
Given that for many people full electrification is either unattractive (possibly even on environmental grounds) or just financially infeasible, a stop gap that allows us to "up-cycle" our existing vehicles to become effectively carbon negative (versus buying a new car) is going to be invaluable. It's the sensible long-term play for industry and "consumer" alike.
- 23,890
- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
If there's one thing that the legislation-pushed move to electric cars has brought on, its the kick-up-the-backside that the traditional automotive fuel companies have needed to really explore more carbon-neutral fuels.
I suspect that realistically in 20 years time, we won't have roads filled predominently with all electric vehicles, but perhaps one shared with hybrid eFuel ICE ones where in-city/in-town driving has to be done under full electric power.
- 86,655
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- GTP_Famine
I did a quick calculation the other day and worked out that if new cars are required to be EV/HEV from 2035 and the parc cycles at current rates of new buys and scrapped, we won't see a majority on the road of EV/HEVs until the mid-2050s.
