Fuel action
Sean Ambrose, Helensburgh NSW
Date: 03 May 2008
At the turn of the last century, Henry Ford not only revolutionised the method of transport and the production and assembly of automobiles - he almost brought the oil barons to their knees.
The model T was a four cylinder engine, capable of running on ethanol. It consumed 18.7 L per 100 km and had a top speed of 72 km/h. An assembly line worker could purchase a Model T with four months wages. One hundred years, later the Ford Explorer V8 consumes 17L/100km and is not commercially available to be powered by ethanol.
In South American countries, the original Volkswagen Beetle is still produced and runs on ethanol; these vehicles can be purchased for about AU$25,000.
The current pricing arrangements by fuel companies is nothing more than extortion. How is it that fuel can be purchased at 60 cents per litre, stockpiled and then resold six months later at 90 cents per litre?
The federal government should take control of the distribution of fuel and invest in the research and development of alternative fuels. Legislation need also be introduced against the importation of vehicles that either are not hybrid, electric or running on alternate fuel supply such as bio-diesel, ethanol and hydrogen.
