Hybrid Auto Ratings Guide
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Alternative Fuels
What is BioDiesel?
This alternative fuel source has many benefits compared to petroleum. One benefit is the price. Biodiesel fuel can be produced for much less than its petroleum counterpart. If you are making it yourself, you will need to purchase a biodiesel kit. These can be gotten for a couple thousand dollars; you may be thinking "Wow, that's a lot of money." But if you think about it, once the savings over gas prices add up to the cost of the kit, all savings after that go straight to your wallet. This will definitely put a little breathing room into your budget. If you are not making biodiesel yourself, and are lucky enough to live in an area where there is a biodiesel station, your savings will add up a lot faster.
Another very important benefit of this fuel alternative is it is very environmentally friendly. It is completely biodegradable. Emissions are almost nonexistent. Biodiesel fuel burns clean and is nontoxic. This means not only does it help the planet but it is not harmful to humans as well. Since biodiesel also does not contain sulfur, its emissions do not contribute to acid rain. Using biodiesel fuel also reduces the cancer causing particulates from being released into the air.
One benefit closely related to the environmental issue is the fact that biodiesel is a renewable resource. This means it can be made over and over. It does not have to be pumped out of the ground. You need some more biodiesel fuel? Just plant another crop and you can make some more. This has a hidden advantage of allowing farmers to make their farms profitable again. This in turn helps the economy as well as the environment.
One other benefit of using biodiesel as an alternative fuel source is safety. The point at which biodiesel will catch fire is much higher than petroleum based fuel. This makes biodiesel much safer to transport and store. It also means if a vehicle that is using biodiesel is involved in an accident it is much less likely to explode. The safety issues alone make this a very attractive alternative fuel.
Biodiesel fuel has a lot of benefits as an alternative fuel source. So, are there any disadvantages to using biodiesel? The only one is if you have a vehicle made before about 1994, you will need to keep a close eye on the hoses of the fuel system. Biodiesel fuel can soften the rubber used to make the hoses. After 1994, most vehicles were made with synthetic hoses and this is not an issue. Another issue you should be aware of is the first few times you use biodiesel you may get a clogged up fuel system. This is because biodiesel fuel will clean out all the old gunk in your fuel system. It will pull all the residue left on the walls of your gas tank off, which in turn may clog up some of the lines. If you are aware of this and watching out for it you should not have any problems.
As an alternative fuel source, biodiesel is top notch. It is a renewable source, since it is made from vegetable oil all you do is grow another crop. This in turn allows farmers to make their farms profitable again (another hidden benefit). It is less expensive to produce, good for your wallet. It is environmentally friendly, not causing a lot of the problems as petroleum based fuel. It is also human friendly, less cancer causing issues, as well as breathing issues. It is also safer to transport and store. It also lessens our country's dependency on foreign oil; this would most certainly help our economy.
Alternative fuel (alternate fuel), also known as non-conventional fuel, is any material or substance that can be used as a fuel, other than fossil fuels, or conventional fuels of petroleum (oil), coal, propane, hydrogen, and natural gas.
Some of the common alternative fuels include bio diesel, ethanol, butanol, chemically stored electricity (batteries and fuel cells), hydrogen, methane, natural gas, wood, vegetable oil, biomass, and peanut oil. The term "alternative fuels" usually refers to a source of which energy is renewable. Renewable energy is the energy from renewable sources like wind power, solar power, tidal power, geothermal power, hydro power or thermal depolymerization. There is growing social interest, and an economic and political need for the development of alternative fuel sources. This is due to general concerns of sustainability, environmental, economic, and geopolitical reasons. Two major concerns are that of rising cost of fossil derived fuels caused by an era of growing energy consumption and of global warming crisis.
The major advantage of alternative fuel is that it burns cleaner than the traditional petroleum fuels. It also helps to reduce such emissions as carbon monoxide, organic compounds, nitrogen oxide, sulfur and particulate matter. Other advantages of alternative fuels are that these fuel costs less, maintenance is cheaper and engines last longer. Most of the alternative fuels have greater conductivity and will increase the lubrication of engine parts depending on its performance.
One of disadvantages of alternative fuel is that it can be expensive to incorporate this technology into our already set up infrastructure. Compatibility is one of the major concerns of alternative fuels. The production of alternative fuels can have widespread effects. For example, the production of corn-based ethanol has created an increased demand for the feed, causing rising prices in almost everything made from corn. There is also debate on the energy used in production verses the energy produced. Whatever may be its advantages and disadvantages, due to the emerging needs of fuel, these renewable energy sources are better hope for us to solve the fuel crisis of the present and future
Some of the common alternative fuels include bio diesel, ethanol, butanol, chemically stored electricity (batteries and fuel cells), hydrogen, methane, natural gas, wood, vegetable oil, biomass, and peanut oil. The term "alternative fuels" usually refers to a source of which energy is renewable. Renewable energy is the energy from renewable sources like wind power, solar power, tidal power, geothermal power, hydro power or thermal depolymerization. There is growing social interest, and an economic and political need for the development of alternative fuel sources. This is due to general concerns of sustainability, environmental, economic, and geopolitical reasons. Two major concerns are that of rising cost of fossil derived fuels caused by an era of growing energy consumption and of global warming crisis.
The major advantage of alternative fuel is that it burns cleaner than the traditional petroleum fuels. It also helps to reduce such emissions as carbon monoxide, organic compounds, nitrogen oxide, sulfur and particulate matter. Other advantages of alternative fuels are that these fuel costs less, maintenance is cheaper and engines last longer. Most of the alternative fuels have greater conductivity and will increase the lubrication of engine parts depending on its performance.
One of disadvantages of alternative fuel is that it can be expensive to incorporate this technology into our already set up infrastructure. Compatibility is one of the major concerns of alternative fuels. The production of alternative fuels can have widespread effects. For example, the production of corn-based ethanol has created an increased demand for the feed, causing rising prices in almost everything made from corn. There is also debate on the energy used in production verses the energy produced. Whatever may be its advantages and disadvantages, due to the emerging needs of fuel, these renewable energy sources are better hope for us to solve the fuel crisis of the present and future
Five major types of alternative fuels
Ethanol:
The biggest fuel additive phenomenon in the past 10 years. Alcohol based and it typically made from corn. More than 7 million cars today can ruin on E85, which is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Ethanol is less powerful than gasoline and most experience a drop in fuel efficiency. There is also a debate about ethanol’s production energy use when compared to the fuel it produces as well as the cost of corn harvesting energy use. Also corn prices have skyrocketed as more ethanol plants have gone online and compete for food use.
Biodiesel:
Virtually ANY diesel car or truck can run on this fuel produced from natural renewable resources such as soybeans, or recycled vegetable oil. Is it safe, biodegradable, and reduces air pollution when compared to regular diesel fuels. There are efforts underway to make biodiesel from coal, bio-plastic, algae, pond scum, and manure.
Natural Gas:
Same as is used in the home. More and more natural gas stations are being opened up and many city/county/state vehicles are using it. In some cities a majority of the Taxis are using it as well.
Electricity:
The advantages are no emissions from the car but there are drawbacks. Most cars need to be recharged every 80 to 150 miles and power stations are still a rarity.
Hydrogen:
Hopefully in the future your car will be run on water that is converted in the fuel cell into hydrogen. The only emissions from the car are heat and water vapor. A lot of research is going on but so far a viable long-range auto is elusive.
Ethanol:
The biggest fuel additive phenomenon in the past 10 years. Alcohol based and it typically made from corn. More than 7 million cars today can ruin on E85, which is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Ethanol is less powerful than gasoline and most experience a drop in fuel efficiency. There is also a debate about ethanol’s production energy use when compared to the fuel it produces as well as the cost of corn harvesting energy use. Also corn prices have skyrocketed as more ethanol plants have gone online and compete for food use.
Biodiesel:
Virtually ANY diesel car or truck can run on this fuel produced from natural renewable resources such as soybeans, or recycled vegetable oil. Is it safe, biodegradable, and reduces air pollution when compared to regular diesel fuels. There are efforts underway to make biodiesel from coal, bio-plastic, algae, pond scum, and manure.
Natural Gas:
Same as is used in the home. More and more natural gas stations are being opened up and many city/county/state vehicles are using it. In some cities a majority of the Taxis are using it as well.
Electricity:
The advantages are no emissions from the car but there are drawbacks. Most cars need to be recharged every 80 to 150 miles and power stations are still a rarity.
Hydrogen:
Hopefully in the future your car will be run on water that is converted in the fuel cell into hydrogen. The only emissions from the car are heat and water vapor. A lot of research is going on but so far a viable long-range auto is elusive.
