As one of the largest providers of transport fuels, we are committed to: helping drivers use less energy and reduce emissions with advanced fuels and lubricants; leading the search for better biofuels; and promoting government policies to reduce CO2 emissions from transport.
Demand for mobility grows strongly in both our scenarios. People will travel more than twice as much by 2050 and there will be over two billion vehicles on the roads, up from 900 million today. Even in a “Blueprints” world, liquid fuels, including more biofuels, provide the bulk of transport needs in 2050.
Less local pollution
Cutting smog and pollution from vehicles, particularly in the fast-growing mega-cities of the developing world, will become an even more urgent challenge. Stringent regulations on local emissions, combined with new engine and fuel technologies, are vital. In the European Union, for example, this combination has helped reduce local vehicle pollutants by more than half since the early 1990s.
We have removed the lead from all our petrol and were one of the first companies to produce “zero” sulphur diesel on a commercial scale. We are continuing to reduce sulphur levels in other fuels and see great promise for Shell’s gas to liquids (GTL) Fuel, made from natural gas. Colourless, odourless and virtually sulphur-free, it is the most cost-effective alternative fuel for reducing local air emissions, according to an independent study conducted for the city of Shanghai. A recent trial, using neat Shell GTL Fuel in four public buses in Shanghai, found it significantly reduced harmful emissions like particulates and nitrogen oxides compared to conventional diesel.
Shell has pioneered GTL Fuel and lubricants and is building the world’s largest GTL plant, Pearl GTL, in Qatar. When completed around the turn of the decade, it will produce enough fuel to fill over 160,000 cars a day and enough oil each year to make lubricants for more than 225 million cars.
Shell Fuel Economy formula – going further, using less
We are serious about helping customers improve their fuel efficiency. Shell’s Fuel Economy formula fuels contain blends of advanced additives and cleaning agents that can help improve drivers’ fuel efficiency by reducing energy loss in engines. In 2007, we increased the availability of Fuel Economy formula fuels, which are available in main grade Shell petrol in 18 countries and main grade Shell diesel in six of these. In eight countries, we also launched the Shell FuelSave Challenge, a publicity campaign for motorists and training programme for professional drivers. The aim is to help drivers improve their fuel economy by adopting fuel-saving driving habits and by using Shell’s Fuel Economy products. In trials conducted in 2007, nearly half the drivers taking part in the Challenge raised their fuel economy by more than 5%. More than a quarter improved by over 10%.
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