Shell, Toyota Test New 'Gas To Liquids' Auto Fuel

By Agence France-Presse Shell Gas & Power and Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp. launched a trial July 6 of a new "gas to liquids" auto fuel they said delivered "ultra-low" vehicle emissions. The two companies will trial the fuel in a fleet of 10 Toyota Avensis cars equipped with D-CAT emission reduction technology for three months in London. Shell has high hopes for the success of gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuel, which it described as a clean, colorless and synthetic fuel derived from gas. "It is the most cost effective of alternative fuels, and its unique properties -- excellent combustion characteristics and virtually free of sulphur -- deliver significant emission benefits," the company said in a statement. Shell said the trial would show that low-emission gas-to-liquids fuel could be used in modern diesel car engines, without any conversion or investment. When used in advanced clean diesel vehicles, such as the Toyota D-CAT Avensis, emissions were "vastly improved" without sacrificing performance, it added. The trial is part of a joint Toyota/Shell research program developing new vehicle and fuel technologies. Shell Gas & Power is part of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2004