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Increasing pump prices combined with tough economic conditions have made for a current climate of doom and gloom, but from an environmental point of view its not all bad news.
The increased cost of fuel works wonders in terms of focusing a drivers' attention onto driving more efficiently, cutting their costs and as a spin-off producing environmental benefits.
But credit crunch aside, something else that is touted to improve fuel economy, keep our cars running better for longer and help the environment is the so called 'super fuel'. Ranging from Shell V-Power and BP Ultimate Diesel to Tesco Super Unleaded 99 Octane, the fuel companies claim these products can optimise fuel economy and increase a car's power output.
As you would expect, super fuels come with a premium price tag so the big question is: are they worth it, or is it just a clever marketing ploy to make us trade up? Well, according to a new study by Which? Car, super fuels don't save you money, they don't improve your car's performance, and they don't help to protect the environment.
On testing three premium fuels against standard equivalents, the survey suggests they were not better for a car in the long run. From an environmental perspective its not good news either, the research found that super fuels only had a marginal effect on emissions.
A pretty damning endorsement and as you would expect, the fuel providers have been quick to dispute the findings, rubbishing the methodology used and the limited scope of the survey. Fuel providers argue that the benefits of using super fuels are long term, but Which? Car points out that while this may be true, any break even point is so far into the future that it is not a realistic benefit.
Whether you are an advocate of super fuels or not, its important not to miss the bigger point in this debate. Whichever fuel is in the tank, the most important factor is the way that a car is driven. We all have a responsibility to adapt our style to make the most of the fuel that we buy, without doing unnecessary damage to the environment.
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