V-power should fight to regain reputation after recent claims

I can’t swear by the gods of the universe that Vivo Energy are angels, on the claims that their V-power brand is compromised.

However, there is an established, credible and accepted methodology for determining fidelity to certain set standards and specifications.

This happens under strict laboratory conditions only prescribed by scientists.

Such tests cannot be conducted in a pedestrian manner along the streets. The equipment for this purpose also needs to meet certain laid down specifications, calibrated and handled by qualified personnel.

There was most recently a video doing rounds on social media purporting to carry out experiments on the potency of the V-power brand of petrol and doing some comparative pseudo-analysis.

The ‘damning’ results seem to have caused quite a stir even forcing Vivo Energy to retaliate with their own video in a laboratory setting.

It’s good, at this stage to appreciate the basics of what is at stake. The most readily available petrol brands in our market are the Regular and Premium grades.

The Premium is also variously referred to as Super petrol and is the most used in virtually all motor vehicles.

Regular petrol is mainly employed on light-duty two-stroke engines variously used as prime movers for mowers, motorcycles, generators, etc.

The advent of high-grade petrol is relatively not a very old occurrence and all players have really attempted to outwit the competition, with Shell V-power having stuck out as the preferred brand for motor enthusiasts.

Whether it’s by sheer superior branding or the engineering thereof Shell V-Power seems to carry the trophy for visibility, if nothing else.

Anyhow, high-grade fuel is purified to the highest standards and enriched with special additives to promote anti-knock qualities and enhance the cleansing of internal engine components. The engine runs more smoothly and can produce more power.

Petrol fuel is graded in a quality called RON number (Research Octane Number). Super petrol has between 90 and 94 RON while Shell V-power has between 95 and 98 RON. The higher the RON the purer and more potent the fuel.

Doubtless, immense damage has already been done on Shell V-Power going by all the ruckus in the comment sections of the various platforms.

These naughty boys threw stones into the police station, as it were.

The quick reaction by Vivo Energy, apt and necessary as it was may have served to assuage a few elitist consumers but more needs to be done to regain the confidence of their entire clientele.

This might be a good time to unleash the erstwhile snake oil merchants, those yellow salespeople, to dazzle us back to our senses. Some razzmatazz will do a lot of good to undo the lies, real and perceived, of those little miscreants only out to be famous for a few seconds, regardless of the cost. 

-The writer is a professional engineering technologist