Shell V-Power

Shell petrol station displaying V-Power brand

Shell V-Power, also known as Shell V-Power Nitro+, is the brand name given to Shell's enhanced high specification fuels for road motor vehicles. Shell launched the fuel in March 2008 under the name Nitrogen-Enriched Shell V-Power, with nitrogen-containing detergents.[1]

Initially used for higher octane Super Unleaded petrol/gasoline (formerly known as Optimax in some regions), it is now additionally used for high specification diesel fuel.

V-Power petrol

Petrol or gasoline is assessed, categorised and sold by an octane rating. Generally, in most areas of the world, the Research Octane Number (RON) is used, but in North America, the Anti-Knock Index (AKI) is used. Conventional 'standard' "Super Unleaded" petrol in the United Kingdom, Europe, South Asia and Australia has an octane rating of 95 RON, and in North America "Premium Unleaded" is AKI/RdON/PON 91-93 (RON 96–98). However, higher octane "Super Plus Unleaded" - often formulated with higher quality additives, is usually set at around 98 RON in mainland Europe; but this can vary by market. Most oil/petroleum companies now 'market' their own Super Plus Unleaded petrols under a unique name - and the current name for Shell Super Unleaded fuel is "V-Power". Like most Super Plus Unleaded petrols, V-Power also contains higher concentrations of detergents and other additives to help clean the engine and smooth its operation.

In the United Kingdom and Denmark (where Super Plus Unleaded must be a minimum of 97 RON), V-Power has a rating of 99 RON (whereas V-Power's predecessor Shell Optimax was rated at 98 RON).[2] There is one other 99 RON fuel available in the UK, namely Tesco MOMENTUM99.[3]

In The Netherlands, V-Power used to have a 95 RON rating, although officials from Shell stated it effectively had a 97 RON rating. Due to the limited categories of 92 RON, 95 RON, 98 RON and 100 RON.,[4] it was officially rated at 95. These days, the RON rating of the V-power petrol in the Netherlands is rated at 98.

In Germany, all Shell stations offer V-Power Racing 100, rated at 100 RON.

In Greece, all Shell stations offer V-Power rated at 97 RON. Most Shell stations also offer V-Power Racing (100 RON).

In Australia, from October 2006, Shell and Coles Express re-branded Optimax to V-Power (98 RON). V-Power Racing, the ultra-high performance variant has a rating of 100 RON although Shell have decided to phase out V-Power Racing from 21 July to mid August 2008, instead recommending V-Power.[5] The previously obtainable higher grade V-Power Racing which contained 5% ethanol to boost V-Power's octane rating to 100 RON has now been phased out by Shell due to a "changing market".

In the United States (U.S.), at around 2004, all U.S. Shell "Premium" gas was rebranded as "V-Power". In 2015, Shell re-branded V-Power to the newly launched V-Power Nitro+.[6]

In Canada, from June 2005, Shell Canada re-branded Optimax Gold to V-Power. In 2015, Shell Canada re-branded V-Power to V-Power Nitro+.[7]

In Hong Kong, as there is no oil refinery plant located in Hong Kong, Gasoline was imported from Singapore, which is 98 RON. However, V-Power sold in gas stations rumored reach 107 RON (the highest native RON for consumer grade commercial petrol across worldwide). Such figure is not supported by actual test, nor is it confirmed by Shell and which is contradicted from a reading material for Legislators of Legislative Council.[8]

In New Zealand, from 2007, Shell rebranded 95 Premium Unleaded as V-Power. It was still rated at 95 RON. Shell sold its New Zealand retail operations in 2010 to a consortium which later became Z Energy, and upon re-branding Shell V-Power was replaced with ZX Premium Unleaded.

In Sweden, Shell V-Power was previously 99 RON, but is now been re-branded under the new owner St1 from June 2011 to "Shell V-Power E5" making it 98 RON with a mix of 5% ethanol.[9]

In Argentina, from 2009, Shell rebranded 95 Super fuel as V-Power and also the Diesel premium for V-Power diesel.

In the Philippines, Pilipinas Shell launches the new premium fuel grade, Shell V-Power Nitro+ Gasoline (formerly Shell Super Premium) and Shell V-Power Nitro+ Racing (formerly Shell V-Power).

In Indonesia, from April 2013, Shell rebranded 95 Super Extra as V-Power with additional additives. While it is still rated at 95 RON. In 2016 Shell V-Power in Indonesia will increase from 95 RON to 98 RON and 100 RON.

In Malaysia, it is RON97 but in Singapore, where Shell offers RON98, the octane is higher for V-Power Racing.

V-Power Diesel

An Audi R10 TDI LMP race car, fueled on Shell V-Power Diesel

V-Power Diesel is Shell's version of an enhanced diesel fuel, similar, say to BPs 'Ultimate Diesel'. Like BP Ultimate Diesel, Shell V-Power Diesel is designed for modern compression-ignition diesel engines, to facilitate enhanced engine performance along with increased engine protection, for more consistent operation and engine longevity.[10]

V-Power Diesel is a blend of regular petroleum-based diesel and synthetic diesel, created using gas to liquids (GTL), along with some extra additives designed to clean the injection system and improve injection pump and injector lubricity.

One characteristic of V-Power diesel is that it is a lot clearer and odourless than normal diesel, mainly due to the synthetic GTL component.

The fuel is slightly less dense than regular diesel so, per volume, the unit energy is actually lower than regular diesel. This is offset, as the fuel tends to ignite more readily (and thus has a higher cetane rating) than regular diesel, and a side benefit of this is that it tends to produce less soot during combustion.

Shell also markets a different "premium" diesel in Canada labeled V-Power, which they state "Is specially formulated for year-round Canadian weather conditions, with a cetane improver, a de-icer and a corrosion inhibitor."[11] but Shell also states that V-Power diesel will typically have an increased cetane rating of 1 to 2 points over standard diesel, which meets Transport Canada's minimum mandated rating of 40.[12] This Canadian V-Power diesel is dispensed from a dedicated pump that injects a measured amount of NEMO 2061 additive into the diesel supply shared with the other diesel pumps at the service station.[13] As a result, it contains no GTL components beyond those that may already exist in the shared diesel supply.

Effective June 1, 2012, Pilipinas Shell launches the new premium diesel fuel grade, Shell V-Power Nitro+ Diesel (formerly Shell V-Power Diesel)

Development in motorsports

Since 2013 Shell V-Power has been sponsoring Scuderia Ferrari that participates in Formula One. Shell V-Power also sponsored Audi Sport Team Joest factory team until 2010.

Part of the campaign, especially targeted to sell "V-Power Nitro+" brand of the fuels (higher priced than usual and similar to blend used on the track) is organizing the "Formula One" events in cities without a track. For example, on the streets of Warsaw, Poland, where Scuderia Ferrari Felipe Massa drove the race car used in 2013 Formula One (in time gap before a Monaco race).[14]

All Shell V-Power fuels featured in Need for Speed: The Run.[15]

References

  1. ↑ John Fuller. "Is nitrogen-enriched gasoline good for my car?". How Stuff Works. Archived from the original on May 6, 2009.
  2. ↑ http://www.topgear.com/lovemycar/dr-fuel/
  3. ↑ http://www.tescopfs.com/momentum99
  4. ↑ Dutch discussion with Shell about RON rating, accessed May 2008
  5. ↑ http://mrtperformance.com.au/about-us/news/1/437-shell-phases-out-v-power-racing-fuel-100-ron
  6. ↑ "Shell starts selling 'premium-plus' gas". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  7. ↑ "New premium gasoline can save drivers money, Shell says | Toronto Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  8. ↑ http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr05-06/english/panels/es/papers/es0424cb1-1303-3e.pdf Retrieved at May 1, 2010
  9. ↑ http://www.st1.se/st1/main.nsf/pages/V_Power?open Retrieved at July 1, 2011
  10. ↑ Shell.com - "Shell V-Power Diesel - Advanced performance fuel". Shell.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  11. ↑ "Shell V-Power Diesel". Shell.com. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Shell's email reply to Canadian Cetane Rating". TDIClub. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  13. ↑ http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/64-chevy-cruze-diesel/46257-shell-v-power-diesel.html
  14. ↑ http://www.shell.pl/products-services/on-the-road/fuels/v-power-nitro-plus-engine-room/shell-vpower-nitro-plus-show.html
  15. ↑ "Shell V-Power fuels in Need for Speed: The Run". Electronic Arts. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
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