§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government support is provided for research into developing technology for lowering sulphur levels in the automative industry. [143170]
§ Mr. Alan Johnson[holding answer 18 December 2000]: The sulphur content of the average car is insignificant, and accordingly research is concentrated into other aspects of car design.
In terms of car use, ultra-low sulphur petrol and diesel that meet European limits prescribed for 2005 are already widely available in the UK today. Such fuels have a low sulphur content of approximately 50 ppm (parts per million). All UK diesel is ultra-low sulphur, and presently 42.5 per cent. of all unleaded petrol consumption is ultra-low sulphur petrol—this figure is increasing.
The use of such fuels is incentivised by fuel duty rebates already implemented, and further enhanced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his recent pre-budget report.
Lower sulphur in fuel is an enabler for new technology such as gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines and reduced tailpipe CO2 and NOx emissions.