By adding nitrogen as an additive, Shell is planning on offering North American consumers the cleanest gas available on the continent to date. The announcement, made during a press conference, also responds to the demands of certain performance car manufacturers that are calling for cleaner and cleaner gasolines to facilitate the development of new technologies.
"We know that the current demand for high-performance fuels is higher than ever. In 2002, for instance, 162 models required superior gasoline. Today, that number has climbed to 282," explains Jens Mueller-Belau, gasoline development coordinator at Shell Canada.
"The introduction of this new, cleaner gasoline should allow us to meet these demands, in particular by ensuring cleaner valves and limiting carbon deposits to the absolute minimum. It will also have a cleansing effect on fuel injectors, the new trend in automotive design," he adds.
According to Shell's estimates, by 2014 there will be five times more direct injection vehicles on the road than hybrids. However, the gasolines currently available in North America don't meet the standards required by high-pressure fuel injectors. "We are constantly communicating with the automakers, in particular through the Top Tier program that includes 10 manufacturers, and they have acknowledged the importance of a gasoline that cleans better. It's also important to note that currently less than 50% of gasolines sold in Canada meet cleaning standards," continues Mueller-Belau.
Shells new additive, dubbed Nitrogen, will be added to all fuel grades, from regular to super. The new product will be available from the first week of May in all Shell gas stations across the country.
"Modern engines function at higher engine speeds and are more effective. But on the flip side, they put greater stress on gasoline and involve much higher temperatures. Adding nitrogen enables us to keep engines performing at 80% of their capacity, even when they reach the highest temperatures possible. This capacity will decrease two to three times slower than with regular gasolines," concluded Mueller-Blau.
photo:Jupiter Images
"We know that the current demand for high-performance fuels is higher than ever. In 2002, for instance, 162 models required superior gasoline. Today, that number has climbed to 282," explains Jens Mueller-Belau, gasoline development coordinator at Shell Canada.
"The introduction of this new, cleaner gasoline should allow us to meet these demands, in particular by ensuring cleaner valves and limiting carbon deposits to the absolute minimum. It will also have a cleansing effect on fuel injectors, the new trend in automotive design," he adds.
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According to Shell's estimates, by 2014 there will be five times more direct injection vehicles on the road than hybrids. However, the gasolines currently available in North America don't meet the standards required by high-pressure fuel injectors. "We are constantly communicating with the automakers, in particular through the Top Tier program that includes 10 manufacturers, and they have acknowledged the importance of a gasoline that cleans better. It's also important to note that currently less than 50% of gasolines sold in Canada meet cleaning standards," continues Mueller-Belau.
Shells new additive, dubbed Nitrogen, will be added to all fuel grades, from regular to super. The new product will be available from the first week of May in all Shell gas stations across the country.
"Modern engines function at higher engine speeds and are more effective. But on the flip side, they put greater stress on gasoline and involve much higher temperatures. Adding nitrogen enables us to keep engines performing at 80% of their capacity, even when they reach the highest temperatures possible. This capacity will decrease two to three times slower than with regular gasolines," concluded Mueller-Blau.
photo:Jupiter Images