---

Fuel Chaos Provides Boost to Alternative Fuels, Says just-auto.com

12 September 2000

Fuel Chaos Provides Boost to Alternative Fuels, Says just-auto.com

    LONDON, Sept. 12 The growing crisis in Western Europe
stemming from the high price of oil will provide a boost to research into
alternative fuels for automotive applications says just-auto.com.  Blockades
of oil depots and refineries have spread this week, as truckers, farmers and
taxi drivers across Europe have sought to protest about the level of gasoline
prices.  High levels of fuel taxation in Europe have been a focus for the
action, which has been triggered by a steep rise in the price of oil traded in
international markets.
    However, it is extremely unlikely that the long-term price of gasoline to
the final customer in Europe will be permitted to decline.  Leaving aside the
vagaries of international oil markets, regulators will almost certainly be
drawn to maintaining a high pump price for environmental and fiscal reasons.
Alternative fuels and technology such as hybrid (gasoline-electric), electric
battery, compressed natural gas, liquid petroleum gas and ethanol, all of
which have disadvantages, have been attracting much attention, but in the
longer term there are high hopes for the fuel cell.
    just-auto.com Managing Editor, David Leggett commented:  "Whatever OPEC
does, it seems pretty clear that gasoline prices are not going to be coming
down substantially.  Work on alternative fuels will be encouraged by all of
this."
    In Europe, Toyota has now offered the gasoline-electric Prius hybrid for
sale.  To read more about the hybrid please click on this link
http://www.just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=13684

    Also, Toyota Motor Corp. plans to open a network of dealer and recycling
centres across Europe to handle its 'green' Prius vehicle.
Visit http://www.just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=13768 for full report.

    just-auto.com is the premier online portal for automotive industry
professionals worldwide.  Targeted specifically at industry and business
professionals the site provides a single point of reference for independent
automotive industry information.