I'm making a few experiments to add fuel usage to Star Fury: I've nearly found a way to make it work but there still are some downsides in the actual implementation.   
 
  
1) When you run out of fuel you can't have a backup Fuel Cell in the cargo ready for use.
2) I had to tie the speed base amount to the fuel cell itself.
I don't have a site to put things on so you will pardon me if I post it here  
 
  
Hope it is readable: please tell your opinions if you find the time to give it a try.
 
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ADD TO: Main_Events.txt
//Fuel handling events
//
Event Name                                           := Event Start Fuel Burn
Event Group ID                                       := 0
Event Enabled                                        := True
Event Permanent                                      := False
Event Triggered Only On Map                          := 
Trigger Conditionals                                 := AND
Number of Triggers                                   := 2
Trigger 1 Type                                       := Status Component On Player Ship
Trigger 1 Param 1                                    := 1
Trigger 1 Param 2                                    := 1
Trigger 2 Type                                       := Status Component On Player Ship
Trigger 2 Param 1                                    := 2
Trigger 2 Param 2                                    := 3
Number of Results                                    := 1
Result 1 Type                                        := Job Execute
Result 1 Param 1                                     := Job Use Fuel Cell
Event Name                                           := Event End Fuel Burn
Event Group ID                                       := 0
Event Enabled                                        := True
Event Permanent                                      := True
Event Triggered Only On Map                          := 
Trigger Conditionals                                 := AND
Number of Triggers                                   := 1
Trigger 1 Type                                       := Job Failed
Trigger 1 Param 1                                    := Job Use Fuel Cell
Number of Results                                    := 2
Result 1 Type                                        := Remove Player Cargo
Result 1 Param 1                                     := 1
Result 2 Type                                        := Event Enable
Result 2 Param 1                                     := Event Start Fuel Burn
Result 2 Param 2                                     := TRUE
ADD TO: Main_Jobs.txt
//Job used to simulate fuel consumption
//
Job Present At Site Center IDs                       := None
Job Name                                             := Job Use Fuel Cell
Mission Name                                         := Job Use Fuel Cell
Requirement Order                                    := In Order
Number of Job Requirements                           := 1
Job Req 1 Type                                       := Load Cargo 1 At Planet 2
Job Req 1 Param 1                                    := Cargo Package
Job Req 1 Param 2                                    := Source Planet
Job Req 1 Mission Description                        := Using Fuel Cell for Destroyer engines.
Job Req 1 Requirement Completed Description          := Fuel Cell depleted. Using emergency trusters.
Job Req 1 Requirement Failed Description             := Fuel Cell depleted. Using emergency trusters.
Number of Job Parameters                             := 2
Job Param 1 Type                                     := Component
Job Param 1 Param Name                               := Cargo Package
Job Param 1 Var String Flag Cargo Name               := [%CargoName%]
Job Param 1 Var String Flag Num Comps                := [%CargoNumComps%]
Job Param 1 Num Variations                           := 1
Job Param 1 Var 1 Component Display Name             := Destroyer Fuel Cell
Job Param 1 Var 1 Component Class Name               := Destroyer Fuel Cell
Job Param 1 Var 1 Num Comps Min                      := 1
Job Param 1 Var 1 Num Comps Max                      := 1
Job Param 2 Type                                     := System
Job Param 2 Param Name                               := Source System
Job Param 2 Var String Flag System Name              := [%SourceSystem%]
Job Param 2 Allowed System Types                     := 
Job Param 2 Min System Distance                      := 0
Job Param 2 Max System Distance                      := 0
Job Param 2 Specific System Name                     := Here
Time Expired Message                                 := Fuel Cell depleted. Using emergency trusters.
Job Repeats                                          := 0
Minimum Level For Appearance                         := 0
Base Chance For Appearance                           := 0
Inc Chance Per Difficulty                            := 0
Job Portrait Type                                    := 
Job Portrait Param                                   := 
Job List Display Height                              := 140
Number of Job Descriptions                           := 0
Job Min Value                                        := 0
Job Max Value                                        := 0
Job Value Increase Per System Distance               := 0
Job Failure Cost                                     := 0
Job Experience Min                                   := 0
Job Experience Max                                   := 0
Job Experience Increase Per System Distance          := 0
Job Experience Failure Cost                          := 0 
Job Experience Modifier Per Character Level          := 0
Time Limit Days Min                                  := 200 
Time Limit Days Max                                  := 200
Time Limit Days Extra Per System Distance            := 0
Enemy Appearance Max Groups                          := 0
Enemy Appearance Max Groups Inc Per Diff             := 0
Enemy Appearance Num Locations                       := 0
ADD TO: Main_Components.txt
Class Name                       := Destroyer Fuel Cell
Name                             := Destroyer Fuel Cell
Description                      := Small cell filled with radioactive material used to supply fuel to destroyer engines. 
Allowed Vehicle Types            := Ship
Space Object XFile Name          := Cargo Pod
Picture Bitmap Index             := 70
Placement Locations              := Hull
Default Repair Priority          := 3
Tonnage Space Taken              := 10
Tonnage Structure                := 10
Level Minimum                    := 1
Uses Levels                      := FALSE
Restriction Type                 := Maximum Number Per Ship
Restriction Value                := 1
Illegal Cargo                    := FALSE
Is Commodity                     := FALSE
Event ID                         := 1
Base Credit Value                := 50
Credit Value Inc Pct Per Level   := 10
Sound Filename                   := 
Energy Consumption               := 0
Energy Consump Inc Per Level     := 0
Weapon Type                      := None
Number of Effects                := 1
Effect 1 Type                    := Propulsion Bonus
Effect 1 Base Amount             := 0.5
Effect 1 Amount Per Level        := 0
Number of Requirements           := 0
Class Name                       := Ion Engine
Name                             := Ion Engine
Description                      := Standard ion driven engine which allows sub-light inter-system travel.
Allowed Vehicle Types            := Ship
Space Object XFile Name          := Cargo Pod
Picture Bitmap Index             := 4
Placement Locations              := Engine
Default Repair Priority          := 3
Tonnage Space Taken              := 10
Tonnage Structure                := 20
Level Minimum                    := 1
Uses Levels                      := TRUE
Restriction Type                 := None
Restriction Value                := 0
Illegal Cargo                    := FALSE
Is Commodity                     := FALSE
Event ID                         := 2
Base Credit Value                := 3000
Credit Value Inc Pct Per Level   := 20
Sound Filename                   := 
Energy Consumption               := 0
Energy Consump Inc Per Level     := 0
Weapon Type                      := None
Number of Effects                := 1
Effect 1 Type                    := Propulsion Base
Effect 1 Base Amount             := 0.03
Effect 1 Amount Per Level        := 0.01
Number of Requirements           := 0
MODIFY IN: Main_Stores.txt (Terran Spacedock)
Comp Group 3 Comp Class 3 Name                       := Destroyer Fuel Cell
Comp Group 3 Comp Class 3 Appearance Chance          := 99
Comp Group 3 Comp Class 4 Name                       := Destroyer Fuel Cell
Comp Group 3 Comp Class 4 Appearance Chance          := 99
MODIFY IN: Main_StartingPlayerShips.txt
Config Slot 21 Component Class Name                  := Destroyer Fuel Cell
Config Slot 21 Location                              := Outer Hull 5
 
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