Oil price rise amid hydrogen hurdles

As petrol prices soar, - soon expected to reach €1 a litre - supermarket chain Tesco has said that despite the rise in crude …

As petrol prices soar, - soon expected to reach €1 a litre - supermarket chain Tesco has said that despite the rise in crude oil prices it plans to maintain its low price policy.

As many forecourts featured prices earlier this week of 96-97 cents, Tesco's two petrol outlets, in Finglas and Killarney, were offering unleaded for 89.5 cents and diesel for 79.4 cents a litre as of Monday evening.

Tesco plans to open its next petrol forecourt in Malahide in mid-July, with another opening in Sandyford next year.

The rise in oil prices is becoming an election issue in the US and

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Meanwhile in Britain BP yesterday attempted to kick-start a faltering hydrogen revolution when it made a last-ditch attempt to win planning permission for the first refuelling station of its kind in Europe, at Hornchurch, Essex.

Despite British government hopes that hydrogen and fuel cells could offer a carbon-free future after the oil runs out, local residents have stopped BP's plans, fearing a Hindenburg airship-style explosion.

A fleet of buses is already cruising the streets of London using the greenhouse gas-free fuel but they have not been able to refuel - as planned - at a specially built £750,000 hydrogen fuel station.

BP is being forced to bring in canisters of hydrogen gas from a depot in Hackney, east London, but will reduce costs tenfold if it can use liquid hydrogen at the proposed filling station.

Michael McAleer

Michael McAleer

Michael McAleer is Motoring Editor, Innovation Editor and an Assistant Business Editor at The Irish Times