A master plan for banishing imported liquid fuel from New Zealand’s economy by 2040.

New Zealand does not need battery or hydrogen-powered vehicles, but just in case some people really want them, the plan is designed to accommodate these technologies.

Based on interviews with and reports from New Zealand and overseas engineers and researchers, From Smoke to Mirrors lays out a practical plan for developing a fully renewable supply of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel in New Zealand. It is based on solid, well-known technology, not airy-fairy things that might get invented sometime in the future. This is a book that everyone can read. It looks at the strengths and weaknesses of all the alternatives, and shows why simple, proven solutions are most likely to work. New Zealand scientists showed how we could do this way back in the 1970s. The technology wasn't ready back then—but now it’s on the brink of practical reality.

The fastest and most economic way to eliminate imported fuel is develop a home-grown industry, so we can make our own renewable petrol and diesel. The best news is that the inflation-adjusted cost of road transport in 2040 should be no more expensive than it is today.

We know that the world's supply of conventional petrol and diesel won't last forever. Synthetic fossil petrol and diesel, made from coal, gas, or unconventional oil, will become increasingly important, but they are also finite resources. So, it doesn't matter whether you're concerned about climate change, or whether you think humanity should burn up all the fossil fuels before switching to renewables, you need to read From Smoke to Mirrors. You'll find everything you need to know about ethanol; biodiesel; renewable petrol, diesel and jet fuel; battery vehicles; hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; hybrids; and a bunch of other technologies that are interesting, weird, or funny.

Find out how New Zealand can eliminate imported fuels from its economy by 2040.

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