Trading statistics about global warming and climate change are pointless – the demand for greener fuels and vehicles is here now, TV presenter and motoring journalist Quentin Willson told top independent fuel retailers at the Forecourt Trader Fuel Track Day at Castle Combe Circuit in Chippenham, Wiltshire, yesterday.
“We could spend a long weekend trading statistics about it and get absolutely nowhere – it would be like wrestling with a mattress full of treacle. But I’m not going to do down that road. We need to change the way we fuel our cars. We cannot continue turning the sky into the colour of curdled milk.
“Look into any city and there is a palpable brown haze. We’ve been doing it for the past 50 years and we can’t keep doing it any more.”
Quentin was celebrity guest speaker at the event, which combined fun on the track with a serious look at the future of fuel and its potential consequences for fuel retailers.
Other speakers included Rupert Furness from the Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles Division of the Department of Transport, who has been responsible for advising DFT ministers on a wide range of transport and environment issues, and now specialises in policy on biofuels.
He was joined by Chevron’s Fuels marketing manager for Europe, Caitriona O’Rourke, who gave an in-depth look at the development of future fuels both in the short, medium and long term.
David Pugh, Saab’s general manager, sales and marketing strategy, showed how developments in car technology were having a huge impact in reducing harmful emissions.
The event was sponsored by Chevron, Christie & Co, Fairbanks, Red Bull, Rustlers, Sweet Cred, Tchibo and Washtec.
Further reports and pictures from the day coming in next month’s issue of Forecourt Trader and in a souvenir supplement in the December issue.
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