Future cars may run on eco-friendly algae fuel

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Cars of the future might run on eco-friendly fuel that is produced by photosynthesis in algae.

According to a report in New Scientist, the fuel produced with the help of algae is an emerald-green crude oil, which could fuel cars, trucks and aircraft without consuming crops that can be used as food.

“This product can go right into today"s oil pipeline," said Jason Pyle of Sapphire Energy in San Diego, California, which developed the fuel.

Pyle said that the “green crude" is similar in quality to naturally occurring crude oil. It is produced as a by-product of photosynthesis by a genetically engineered strain of algae, housed in tanks of treated waste-water and exposed to sunlight.

The tanks can be placed on non-arable land. Gasoline, diesel and jet fuel have already been refined from the green crude, and the company aims to produce 10,000 barrels per day within five years.