Oil giants in talks over green diesel fuel roll-out

A new diesel-altering product that claims to reduce motorists’ harmful emissions and cut fuel consumption is to be launched to consumers.

Oil companies are already in discussions with technology company Oxonica to roll out Envirox, a fuel-borne catalyst. It is currently only available to fleet owners and businesses, and is used by travel group Stagecoach in the UK and New Zealand.

Oxonica, a nanotechnology company spun out of Oxford University, has confirmed it is talking to major oil companies and international fleet operators about extending the product’s reach.

The company says Envirox reduces fuel consumption by up to a tenth in diesel engines, which make up more than a quarter of the UK car market, as well as reducing harmful emissions by up to 15 per cent.

Oxonica says this is an ideal time to prepare a consumer launch, because of steep fuel price hikes and growing concerns over the environment. A spokeswoman says: “We are looking into making Envirox available to consumers at the petrol pumps. It is not going to happen overnight, but it has been successful for businesses, and could possibly be rolled out to motorists in the future.”

It is not clear at this stage whether consumers would face a price increase for choosing to use petrol containing Envirox.

Stagecoach Group chief executive Brian Souter says: “The savings offered by this product will help us provide services that attract people onto public transport.”

In June, BP appointed integrated agency 20:20 London to launch an internet and mobile marketing push for green petrol brand Ultimate.

In 1998, Shell unveiled Pura, a petrol that it said contributed to clean air.