Alternative Fuels

Almost all of the cars and trucks we drive run on fuels derived from oil. Oil is a non-renewable resource, and while there is some debate as to how long this resource will last, we will eventually have to find new alternative fuels to power highway vehicles.

Until other alternative fuels are developed, it makes sense to use fossil resources such as oil more efficiently to buy time to develop new and better energy sources and to make the transition to these sources smoother and less expensive.

With gas prices shockingly almost doubling its prices the last few months, many people are looking for alternative fuel that is not totally oil based. Aside from the prices, another reason why people are setting their sights on alternative fuel is because oil and gas is devastating to the environment.  

Different ways and option are being used in search for alternative fuels. Almost every living and non living thing in this world is being studied just to find fuels that may be used to save energy.

Since the oil is the most abused form of fuel, and it is not known if how long and until it will last, oil should be consumed properly and wisely. Aside from industries, cars and vehicles are the most dependent in oils. There are lots of research and discoveries made and being made just to solve or minimize this problem in the oil or fuel industry.

There are already other types of fuel that are believed to be viable as alternatives, but they are still being studied and under research. These said to be ‘alternative fuels’ are normally found in the core of the earth and are of abundant sources.

The following are some of the alternative fuels that are now available. The U.S. Department of Energy classifies them as Alternative fuel.

• Biodiesel  or mono alkyl esters, is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Basically, there is no engine modification that is required to make it work, and biodiesel sustains the payload capacity and range of a diesel.

• Electricity can be used as a transportation fuel to power battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. When used to power electric vehicles or EV’s, electricity is stored in an energy storage device such as a battery. but the difference between batteries and fuel cells is that, fuel cells convert chemical energy to electricity.

• Ethanol  is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars.

• Hydrogen  in the future may be produced in virtually unlimited quantities using renewable resources. Hydrogen has been used effectively in a number of internal combustion engine vehicles as pure hydrogen mixed with natural gas.

• Natural Gas is domestically produced and readily available to end-users through the utility infrastructure. It is also clean burning and produces significantly fewer harmful emissions than reformulated gasoline or diesel when used in natural gas vehicles.

These alternative fuels, although already available are not that accessible to all because only few offers it and only few engine are out in the market that uses these alternative fuels.

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