Alternative fuels

Some years ago, politicians would boast about ‘joined-up’ government. I’ve yet to see it, but they could start with coherence within government departments.

The Government has set a clear objective of decreasing air pollution, and at the same time reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Last year, it announced a mandatory end to petrol and diesel-engined cars.

Rail Minister Jo Johnson, not to be left out, has announced an end to diesel engines on the rails ( RAIL 847). But he doesn’t seem to call for an end to bi-mode trains, which have diesel engines. Moreover, the Department for Transport has not announced (to my knowledge) an end to diesel trucks and buses.

There seems to be a naive supposition that rechargeable batteries are the solution. As far as cars are concerned, without an unexpected breakthrough in battery technology, three huge obstacles must be overcome:

Operating range - 100 miles may be adequate for commuting, but useless for longer trips.

For those of us parking at the roadside, can we expect to have to step over a tangled mass of cables on our footpaths?

Can the electricity companies cope with an additional load of battery charging as people return from work?

Recent issues of RAIL have references to research into hydrogen-powered technology. I believe this to be the way forward. Whatever technology is finally used, a new reinforced infrastructure will be needed to distribute the electrical power.

Superficially, it may appear that battery-power is the way forward and requires little or no capital investment. This is a mistaken view and allows the promoters of battery-power to ride on the backs of the existing network without paying for it.

If a new national hydrogendistribution network is needed, then the hydrogen suppliers should finance it, on the basis of ‘let the users pay’.

The DfT must incentivise research and development of hydrogen or other power sources that takes into account the full picture.

S Turner, Middlesbrough