Shell says it was the largest investor in R&D last year, kicking in $1.3 billion, and part of that loot gets spent at a place like this, the Shell Technology Center, 20 miles west of Houston.

Our long-termer is full of regular E10 unleaded to EN228 98 RON specification, as is Coryton’s Sustain petrol. John Barker, who actually paid attention at school and has certificates to prove ...