In a sign of things to come, the Pearson Ford Fuel Depot in San Diego offers just about all of the choices you’ll find these days. They have all of the gasoline grades, diesel, BioWillie biodiesel, E85 ethanol and even propane. I haven’t seen anything quite that diverse in my neck of the woods but it’s only a matter of time. Then how far off will the high pressure hydrogen station be and a “quick charge” electric outlet?
What will be interesting is how they keep all of this separate and obvious for most of the motorists who pull in, there’s probably going to be a need for some very clear color coding system on the nozzles. Putting E85 in a regular gas car or truck won’t be too bad but the diesel might not be so hot, or vice versa. Manufacturers will probably have to develop some “foolproof” way to defeat the potentially expensive wrong fuel fillup but you know it’s going to happen anyway.
Link: Autos Insider
Photo: Chris Park / Associated Press
Prester John says
What, no CNG/LNG? 😉
Tom
Mayakovski says
Given that we have to put the word “Hot” on coffee cups for all the fools out there. There will indeed be “expensive wrong fuel fillups” for some people.
I can just see it now.
Clueless person:
I thought that was regular gas, it’s not my fault that I did not read the warning sign, I’m going to sue for $20,000,000.00.
Courts:
You poor clueless person, of course you deserve $20,000,000.00 for not reading the warning sign and wrecking your 1985 honda that is worth $500.00.
AAAARRRRGGGGG.
GenWaylaid says
If you’ve ever tried to stick the diesel nozzle in a gasoline car, you’ve quickly discovered that it’s the wrong size to fit in the fuel tube. It would be fairly easy to put square or triangular ends on the “alternate fuel” nozzles to create similar physical incompatibility. Electric car plugs are obviously different, but isn’t it rather hazardous to be plugging in an electric car next to a gas pump?
Biker Betty says
I have never seen anything like that before. I bet it’s years before I see them here.
Earl says
I’m unconvinced by the ethanol claims. I’ve yet to see any serious report on the benefits of it (here in Australia) but have read anecdotal reports of decreased performance and economy. Besides, what are the “environmental benefits?” Don’t these people know what large-scale sugar production does to a landscape?
Until I see some serious evidence to the contrary, I cannot see ethanol as anything other than a quick’n’easy political fix. And I can’t put it in my motorbike, anyway.