What is happening now? Has the world gone completely mad? Recently, it looks like the Big Oil companies are creating technology to help consumers use less oil. What up with this?

Shell Oil has announced that they will be using Hawaiian algae to create biodiesel fuel. And, Exxon has announced two different technologies that will lessen the consumption of oil.

A couple of weeks ago, ExxonMobil announced that they have developed a new thin film separator for lithium-ion batteries for electric, hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This new technology will make the batteries safer, more powerful and more reliable and most of all aid in the advancement of electric-powered vehicles, which will elbow out oil-burning vehicles.

This week ExxonMobil has announced that they have teamed up with QuestAir, Plug Power, Inc. and Ben-Gurion University to create an on-vehicle hydrogen on demand system for lift trucks, that if successful could be developed for other vehicles as well. The on-demand system could use hydrocarbon fuels or it could use ethanol, biodiesel and other biofuels as the source for hydrogen.

The Big Oil companies have been accused of greenwashing in the past, which is trying to project themselves to the public as going green, while only making half-hearted attempts to do so. But, perhaps, the oil companies are finally getting smart and double-dipping from both the traditional oil market and the alternative fuel market.

By playing it on both ends there will be profits to be made and as long as there are tangible results on the alternative fuel end, we all will benefit with cleaner air and greater energy independence.

Filed under: Hydrogen Vehicles