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Scientists at Liverpool University and engineers at car giants Ford have developed a new ignition system which uses focused beams of laser light to ignite the fuel. The researchers claim the technology is more reliable and efficient than current spark plug technology and will enable cars to start more easily in cold and damp conditions. It is understood that Ford, the world’s fourth largest car manufacturer, hopes to put the laser ignition system into their top of the range vehicles within the next couple of years before making it more widely available. Dr Tom Shenton, a reader in engineering at Liverpool University who is leading the project, said: “We are running engines everyday in our laboratory with this system now and our ultimate objective is have it inside cars driven by consumers. “Lasers can be focused and split into multiple beams to give multiple ignition points, which means it can give a far better chance of ignition. “This can really improve the performance of the engine when it is cold, as this is the time when around 80 per cent of the exhaust emissions are produced and the engine is at is least efficient. More