Learn about Alternative Fuels
Here is a listing of the types of alternate fuels that are available depending on what type of vehicle that you drive. Using these alternative fuels can generally reduce costs, harmful pollutants, exhaust emissions. Click on each alternative fuel type listed above to learn more about each fuel type. 1)CNG (Compressed Natural Gas): CNG is a substitute for gasoline (petrol) or diesel fuel. It is considered to be an environmentally "clean" alternative to those fuels. It is made by compressing purified natural gas, and is typically stored and distributed in hard containers. In response to high fuel prices and environmental concerns, compressed natural gas is starting to be used in light-duty passenger vehicles and pickup trucks, medium-duty delivery trucks, and in transit and school buses. 2)E85: E85 is an alcohol fuel mixture of 85% ethanol (ethyl alcohol, i.e., grain alcohol) and 15% gasoline (petrol) (proportioned by volume rather than mass) that can be used in flexible-fuel vehicles. As of 2005, E85 is frequently sold for a 0 to 35% lower cost than gasoline. Much of this discount can be attributed to various government subsidies, and, at least in the United States, the elimination of state taxes that typically apply to gasoline and can amount to 47 cents, or more, per gallon of fuel. The federal tax exemption that keeps ethanol economically competitive with petroleum fuel products is due to expire in 2007, but this exemption may be extended through legislative action. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the price of E85 rose to nearly on par with the cost of 87 octane gasoline in many states in the United States, and was for a short time the only fuel available when gasoline was sold out, but within four weeks of Katrina, the price of E85 had fallen once more to a 20% to 35% lower cost than 87 octane gasoline. Major auto manufacturers such as Ford, Chrysler, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and GM make several vehicles which use ethanol. They are sometimes know as Flexible Fuel or "flex fuel" vehicles (FFV).
As ethanol is not yet widely available these cars and trucks are purchased mostly by large companies who have their own fueling stations.
Ethanol could easily be made available to consumers at currently existing gas stations.
3)LPG(Liquified petroleum gas): Liquified petroleum gas (also called liquefied petroleum gas, liquid petroleum gas, LPG, LP Gas, or autogas) is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles, and increasingly replacing fluorocarbons as an aerosol propellant and a refrigerant to reduce damage to the ozone layer. Varieties of LPG bought and sold include mixes that are primarily propane, mixes that are primarily butane, and mixes including both propane and butane, depending on the season—in winter more propane, in summer more butane. Propylene and butylenes are usually also present in small concentration. A powerful odorant, ethanethiol, is added so that leaks can be detected easily. LPG is manufactured during the refining of crude oil, or extracted from oil or gas streams as they emerge from the ground.
4)Electricity: An electric vehicle is a vehicle whose motion is provided by electric motors. The motion may be provided either by wheels or propellors driven by rotary motors, or in the case of tracked vehicles, by linear motors. The electrical energy used to power the motors may be obtained from a direct connection to land-based generation plants, as is common in electric trains; from chemical energy stored on the vehicle in batteries or diesel fuel; from nuclear energy, on nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers; or more esoteric sources such as flywheels, wind and solar. The reasons electric motors are used to drive vehicles are their fine control, high efficiency and simple mechanical construction. Electric motors often achieve 90% conversion efficiency over the full range of speeds and power output and can be precisely controlled. Electric motors can provide torque whilst not moving, unlike internal combustion engines, and do not need gears to match power curves. This removes the need for gearboxes, torque convertors and differentials. Electric motors also have the unusual ability to convert movement energy back into electricity, through regenerative braking. This can be used to reduce the wear on brake systems, and reduce the total energy requirement of a journey. 5)Biodiesel: Biodiesel is fuel made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils or animal fats. It is biodegradable and non-toxic, and has significantly fewer emissions than petroleum-based diesel (petro-diesel) when burned. Biodiesel functions in current engines, and is a possible candidate to replace fossil fuels as the world's primary transport energy source. 6)Hydrogen: Hydrogen fuel is one of the great hopes for the future of transportation on this planet.Why?
• hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element on the planet, the potential supply is unlimited
• it produces no pollution
• it would eliminate our dependency on foreign oil
The use of hydrogen as a fuel source breaks down into two main types:
• Hydrogen gas used in an internal combustion engine replacing gasoline.
• Hydrogen used to create electricity to power an electric vehicle (car, truck, bus, etc.)
Engines such as those used in our normal gasoline powered cars can be made to use hydrogen fuel instead of gasoline
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