02 Feb 07
SunFuel is consistently pure
Dr Steiger stresses the importance of seeing the big picture, to ensure the processes used in the manufacture of cars and fuels are as clean as possible. It's also crucial that the oil companies are involved, as they control the refuelling infrastructure and their co-operation in the transfer to a new type of fuel is essential.
'CO2 reduction is our major goal, not just the word "bio". This problem has come up in the last 10 years and is getting more and more dramatic with each new hurricane or every time the question comes up of what's happened to the winter. We cannot wait. We have to act now to bring the right system into effect. We are all stakeholders.'
Touran prototype with CCS engine
Dr Steiger's an engineer, and a very persuasive campaigner, but he's also a realist, and understands that no-one wants to give up their personal mobility.
'Especially for long-distance driving, there's currently no alternative to liquid fuels burnt in a combustion engine,' he says. 'We need more efficient, more intelligent combustion engines using more intelligent fuels.' Hence CCS and SunFuel.
So, problem solved? Not quite. There are huge obstacles yet to be overcome in both the medium and long term. Problems still awaiting solutions include the supply of sufficient quantities of electricity from clean sources; in-car hydrogen fuel tanks that can be built at a realistic price; appropriate tax incentives from governments; and countries with rapidly developing economies, such as China and India, playing ball.
