Since the creation of the iconic Ford Model T - an automobile which is regarded as the first mass-produced car - cars of the present era have changed and evolved drastically.
New technologies like hybrid power units and regenerative braking systems have been adopted to provide a guilt-free commute, while some components have been replaced for better, more efficient ones - in the case of brisk and slick dual-clutch transmissions that outperform their analogue ancestors.
In similar fashion, thanks to advances in chemical engineering and modern technology, petroleum has been upgraded from its basic function to offer benefits like improved mileage, more power and better responsiveness through a cleaner engine.
One iconic brand to commercially offer such fuel for almost six years is Shell - through its premium V-Power formula for commerical commuters.
Shell V-Power is derived from the racing grade V-Power, conceived through a strong and concrete parnership with one of the most successful Formula One teams in the world - Scuderia Ferrari. Adapted from the world of F1, the commercial V-Power fuel is claimed by Shell to be 99 percent similar to the racing fuel used by the Ferrari team.
Mae Ascan, Senior Scientist (Projects and Technology) at Shell, shared during a presentation on how the small molecules in V-Power propellant, the key components of the fuel, improve the performance of an Internal Combustion Engine (I.C.E).
As more carbon builds up over the course of an engine's life, it resides on the piston heads and valves - which restrict the internal components of the engine to function at optimum levels - as the carbon increases resistance and the pistons cannot fully execute the 'push and pull' movement.
Due to this, the engine has to work harder to extract more power, while responsiveness, speed and performance are expected to drop.
However, with the continued use of V-Power, Shell believes the small specially engineered particles contain cleaning elements to extract and clear away the carbon build-up from the inlet valves and fuel injection systems inside the engine.
In addition, V-Power is designed to actively reduce friction by introducing a surface coating component designed to coat critical engine parts and unlock valuable energy.
The long term benefits include a cleaner engine, which in turn results in a car that has higher responsiveness and power. Also, with the increasing emphasis on green motoring, Shell V-Power fuels are crafted to suit the minimum individual market requirements.
As a premium technical partner of Ferrari, many of the Shell scientists who develop products for the Ferrari team also work on their commercial equivalents, ensuring that any technological advantage developed for Ferrari is passed directly to the motorist. Due to this, Shell is assured that by the time its products are adapted for commercial purposes, they have survived the harshest engineering test there is.
