SYNTHETIC FUELS INSTEAD OF EVS

The world is focused on electric cars right now, but are we in danger of missing out on alternatives in our blinkered approach for plug-and-play motoring?

The Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA) – the not-for-profit organisation created to support the historic vehicle sector – has joined forces with industry specialists involved in the development of synthetic fuels. The HCVA sees synthetic fuel research as essential if the sector is to achieve the government target of ‘net zero’ by 2050.

The HCVA is working alongside specialist CKL Developments, which has been testing a customer’s race car at Goodwood using synthetic fuels developed by Coryton Advanced Fuels. The test using a mix of conventional and synthetic fuels proved successful, with the car performing exceptionally well at Goodwood.

Garry Wilson, CEO of the HCVA, commented: “We’re pleased to support the future of our historic and classic industry and vehicle owners through the development of these fuels, and are extremely grateful to Coryton and CKL Developments for this first test. By retaining internal combustion engines for historic vehicles but switching to synthetic fuels, we can create a virtuous circle.”

The HCVA plans to seek extra funding to help with ongoing research into the use of synthetic fuels.

Director of the HCVA, Guy Lachlan, told the Classics World website: “Using sustainable and synthetic liquid fuels is clearly vital for the future of classic motoring. There’s much support from legislators, who are increasingly understanding that investment must be deployed in technologies such as future liquid fuels, and not just electrification.”