18 Dec 08 14:08
Bentley is developing bioethanol-powered versions of its large-engined models and plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its range by 40% within three years.
The Telegraph reports that Bentley will unveil its first bioethanol-powered model at the Geneva Motor Show next spring, and that it is negotiating with the British royal family over supplying bioethanol-powered vehicles for state use.
Bioethanol is typically derived from plant sources, and while there are ethical issues around its large-scale usage - crops previously grown for food are now being grown for fuel, pushing up the global price of grain - it is used successfully in small-scale projects in countries including Sweden, where it is synthesized from waste forestry material.
Bentley is working to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions across its fleet: its output is currently an average 400g/km. While it will not have to meet the newly-set EU target of an average 130g/km by 2015 (this will probably only apply to companies making over 10,000 cars a year; details of this exemption have not yet been firmed up) it will still be subject to some demands to reduce its greenhouse gas output.
A spokesman told the Telegraph that while it was focusing on bioethanol in the short term, Bentley had also not ruled out fitting diesel engines in the future.
