5 Facts About Alternative Fuels
By Tracie Close
1. Why Are Alternative Fuels Necessary?
Oxides of nitrogen. Carbon monoxide. Particulate matter. An increase in the greenhouse gases that is suspected of contributing to worldwide disastrous effects like extreme weather conditions and climate change. Overall, the necessity of moving toward alternative fuels is beyond argument. Continuing to pollute our air and atmosphere as we have in the past is not only foolish when the effects are studied, but is an option that’s decidedly short-lived as our fossil fuel resources dwindle over time. Even if we don’t do harm to our planet, the options of using nonrenewable fuel sources has a calculated end in our future.
2. Alternative Fuel Options
Ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hydrogen fuel are all ecologically responsible forms of renewable energy that – to varying degrees –can be used to power vehicles. Biobutanol, compressed air, and other renewables are also being explored. Plus, cleaner burning fossil fuels that could displace petroleum use, such as natural gas and propane, are being increasingly used for transportation.
3. Alternative Fuel Benefits
E85 ethanol fuel, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, burns cleaner than gasoline and can potentially provide more horsepower. The same can be said for M85 methanol, although methanol’s time as a motor fuel may have passed with widespread experimental use of this fuel in the 1990s. Compressed natural gas can fuel internal combustion engines and has the benefits of extremely low emissions and higher octane, which allows optimizing engines for increased performance. Propane offers lower emissions than gasoline and diesel fuels. Biodiesel can be used in modern diesel engines with little or no modifications. Electricity provides an efficient way to power electric motors while creating zero localized emissions. Hydrogen can be used to cleanly power a modified internal combustion engine or a fuel cell vehicle with electric drive motors.
4. Downsides to Alternative Fuels
Each alternative fuel has its challenges. They typically include a lack of fueling infrastructure and either the cost of the fuel or the challenge of storing it on board a vehicle in ways that allow expected driving range. These challenges are being addressed vigorously as companies and proponents of these fuels strive to bring them to the mass market.
5. How Alternative Fuels are Used in Vehicles Today
Commercially available models of flexible-fuel E85 ethanol cars, hybrids, low speed electric cars, and one natural gas model from Honda are available. Vehicles modified to run on natural gas and propane are available from companies that specialize in this. Air cars are being introduced in limited numbers to the public in Europe but not yet in the United States. Biodiesel is being used increasingly in diesel vehicles. With the high and rising cost of gasoline and diesel fuel at the pump, the development and use of alternative fuels will only increase in the future.
Want to know more about alternative fuels? Be sure to check out these articles on GreenCar.com:
Ethanol and Biodiesel in the United States
Five Fuels Driving the Future
Clean Fuels Deliver
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