Fuel News

Australia will soon have 40 hydrogen-powered cars on local roads – even though there is only one refuelling station nationally to date. In addition to 20 Hyundai Nexo hydrogen-powered SUVs due to hit the road next month, Toyota has confirmed it will import 20 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell sedans from next year.

Petrol has dipped below $1 per litre at bowsers across Australia as the price of fuel hits a 20-year low. A massive oversupply of oil globally – as roads are empty during the lockdowns – has caused the price of petrol to plummet to record lows. In some extreme cases – reported widely on the nightly news – some oil companies are even paying others to take their fuel supply because they have nowhere to store it.

Audi will be among the first brands to offer a car with a petrol particulate filter (PPF) in Australia, today announcing the updated RS3 sedan and hatch will feature the emissions control technology. Now required to meet strict European emissions standards, a PPF sits between the engine and exhaust to catch harmful pollutants. Peugeot was first to offer a PPF in Australia, while Skoda this morning announced it will offer a limited run of Superb Scouts with a filter-equipped petrol engine.

UPDATE AUSTRALIA'S fuel quality is still apparently not suitable for the latest high tech engines - despite Porsche this week claiming its updated Macan SUV was the first car sold in Australia with a petrol particulate filter. Further investigation found Porsche has in fact not fitted particulate filters to its latest model sold in Australia, contrary to initial reports. Porsche shocked the car industry - and its fellow German brands - by announcing the technology leap.

Volkswagen Australia managing director, Michael Bartsch, has called for Australia's fuel standards and emissions testing to be dragged into line with the latest European rules, lest we become a "dumping ground" for old engine technology.