Time was when automotive fuel led a relatively simple life flowing in and out of various tanks without too much concern for its contents. Then the lead was taken out. Then the sulphur. Then came a complex web of eco-driven legislation which is currently driving many of those concerned to among other things sigh rather dramatically when questioned on the subject.

only a year ago biofuels were being touted as the future, but now the government seems to be putting the brakes on its green fuels project.

The future of fuels - and motoring - is green. But that doesn't mean we'll all have to start driving powerless box-shaped vehicles.

Ask your customers what their priority is when filling up their cars and most of them will say cost. You see it might be trendy, even politically correct, to worry about the environment but most drivers are worried about how much it costs them to fill up on the forecourt.

There is so much focus on developing the shop side of the service station business these days, that the fuel element has become almost secondary – except where prices and margins are concerned of course.