Katerina Swanson
The automotive industry has long relied on fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas. However, growing environmental concerns and the desire for greater sustainability have driven car manufacturers to explore alternative fuel sources. Electric vehicles, for instance, are becoming increasingly popular, despite their higher purchase price, and many countries are incentivizing their adoption. Hydrogen fuel cell cars, such as the Hyundai NEXO and Toyota Mirai, are also being tested by automakers, though the lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure is a challenge. In the past, vehicles like the Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927, used ethanol as fuel, and Brazil launched a government-subsidized effort to manufacture ethanol-powered automobiles in 1975. Other alternative fuel sources that have been used in cars include propane, compressed natural gas, biodiesel, and even coal, which indirectly powers many electric vehicles through electricity generated by coal-fired plants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alternative fuel vehicles | Electric cars, hydrogen cars, biofuel cars, propane cars, natural gas cars |
| Electric cars | Powered by electricity, lithium-ion battery, rechargeable, zero tailpipe emissions, more affordable, efficient and practical |
| Hydrogen cars | Hydrogen as fuel, emits only water vapour, BMW Hydrogen 7, Hyundai NEXO, Toyota Mirai, Honda FCX Clarity |
| Biofuel cars | Bioethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, ethanol fuel, methanol, corn, sugarcane, vegetable oils, animal fats, renewable |
| Propane cars | Colourless liquid, vaporises into gas during combustion, clean-burning, low fuel cost, energy-dense composition |
| Natural gas cars | Compressed natural gas, liquid nitrogen, anaerobic digestion, clean-burning, commercial availability |
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Hydrogen fuel cells
The Toyota Mirai is a popular example of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, and it is the best-selling hydrogen car in the US. The Mirai has a fuel-cell stack that combines hydrogen from the fuel tank with oxygen from the air to create electricity and power the vehicle. The Mirai also includes a high-voltage, low-capacity battery to provide extra power for acceleration, similar to those used in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles.
While hydrogen fuel cells have many advantages, they also have some drawbacks. One of the main challenges is that hydrogen fuel cells are most efficient when operating at a steady power output, which is not always suitable for the varying power demands of a car. Additionally, hydrogen fuel cells are currently very expensive, and there is a lack of infrastructure for hydrogen fuelling stations, which has limited the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
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Electric vehicles
The first commercial vehicle that used an alternative fuel source was the Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927. It was fitted with a carburetor with adjustable jetting, allowing the use of gasoline or ethanol, or a combination of both. In the United States, alcohol fuel was produced in corn-alcohol stills until Prohibition criminalized alcohol production in 1919. The use of alcohol as fuel for internal combustion engines lapsed until the oil price shocks of the 1970s brought it back into consideration.
In the 1970s, Brazil launched the Pro-alcool program, a government-subsidized effort to manufacture ethanol fuel from sugar cane and ethanol-powered automobiles. These ethanol-only vehicles were very popular in the 1980s but became economically impractical when oil prices fell and sugar prices rose. In 2003, Volkswagen built the first commercial ethanol flexible-fuel car, the Gol 1.6 Total Flex, which was a commercial success.
Today, electric vehicles are growing in popularity, and many countries are offering incentives for their adoption. While the purchase price of an electric vehicle can be significantly higher compared to conventional gasoline-powered cars, electric vehicles have lower maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts. Governments often offer grants for new electric vehicles, helping to reduce initial costs. Additionally, electric vehicles have lower fuel costs, as electricity is generally cheaper than gasoline.
However, one of the most significant issues with electric vehicles is the time and planning required for charging. Charging a battery electric vehicle can take a couple of hours, and this wait time can extend if the battery is older. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use electricity to power the vehicle over longer distances, releasing zero emissions when running purely on battery power. They also use another fuel source, typically petrol or diesel, to power an internal combustion engine, addressing the limitations of electric vehicles' onboard batteries.
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Biofuels
Bioethanol can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a gasoline additive to increase octane ratings and improve vehicle emissions. The first commercial vehicle to use ethanol as a fuel was the Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927. It was fitted with a carburetor that allowed for the use of gasoline, ethanol, or a combination of both. In 1975, Brazil launched a government-subsidized program to manufacture ethanol fuel and ethanol-powered automobiles. These ethanol-only vehicles were very popular in the 1980s but became economically impractical when oil prices fell and sugar prices rose. In 2003, Volkswagen built the first commercial ethanol flexible-fuel car, the Gol 1.6 Total Flex, which was a commercial success.
Biodiesel can also be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form (B100) but is usually blended with conventional diesel fuel to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered engines. Biodiesel is an effective solvent, cleaning residues deposited by mineral diesel, and it also cleans the engine combustion chamber of carbon deposits, helping to maintain efficiency. However, engine filters may need to be replaced more often as the biofuel dissolves old deposits in the fuel tank and pipes.
While biofuels were supposed to reduce CO2 emissions, a recent analysis by the European Commission found that using biodiesel for transport is set to increase Europe's overall transport emissions by almost 4%. This is due to the large emissions associated with the potential land-use change required to produce additional biofuel feedstocks. As a result, the European Commission is reviewing its biofuel policies to phase out the mandating, subsidizing, and zero-carbon accounting of harmful biofuels.
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Compressed natural gas
CNG vehicles offer several advantages over conventional diesel and gasoline vehicles. They produce lower emissions, including 20-29% less CO2 than diesel and gasoline, and have lower carbon and particulate emissions per equivalent distance travelled. In addition, natural gas has a higher Octane rating than gasoline, making it less likely to cause engine knocking. CNG vehicles also have fewer wasted fuel issues and can be converted from existing gasoline or diesel vehicles, offering both dedicated and bi-fuel options. Heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses can also undergo conversion, utilising spark ignition systems or hybrid electric motor configurations.
However, there are also challenges associated with CNG vehicles. One significant challenge is the storage and refueling of natural gas due to its pressurised state. While advancements in compression have helped mitigate energy density differences, trade-offs regarding storage container size, complexity, and weight continue to affect vehicle range. The driving range of CNG vehicles is generally less than that of comparable diesel or gasoline vehicles due to the lower energy density of natural gas, and extra storage tanks can increase range but may displace cargo capacity. Additionally, commercial on-demand refueling stations for CNG are more expensive to operate than LNG stations because of the energy required for compression.
In 2015, Honda announced its decision to phase out the commercialisation of natural gas-powered vehicles to focus on the development of electrified vehicles. Since 2008, Honda sold about 16,000 natural gas vehicles, mainly to taxi and commercial fleets. While LNG and CNG are both considered natural gas vehicles (NGVs), the technologies are quite different, with distinct refueling equipment, fuel costs, pumps, tanks, hazards, and capital costs.
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Ethanol
While ethanol is a renewable resource and can be produced from crops or agricultural waste, there are some concerns about its production and use. For example, ethanol production may contribute to increased food prices due to the large amount of arable land required for crops. Additionally, the process of producing ethanol from corn may use more energy than the amount of ethanol produced, and ethanol currently releases more carbon dioxide than gasoline due to the way that corn is grown. Furthermore, ethanol can be corrosive to rubber products and carbs in older vehicles, and it has less energy per amount of fuel than gasoline. However, its high octane rating allows for very high-compression, high-performance engines that use the fuel more efficiently.
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Frequently asked questions
Alternative fuels are those that are not traditional petroleum-based fossil fuels such as gasoline, petrodiesel or liquefied petroleum gas. They can be renewable biofuels like ethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, and hydrogen fuel, or electricity.
Yes, several car manufacturers have used hydrogen as an alternative fuel source. Hydrogen can be used in combustion engines, similar to traditional gasoline cars, or in fuel cells to produce electricity. A few commercially available hydrogen fuel cell cars include the Hyundai NEXO, Toyota Mirai, and previously the Honda FCX Clarity. BMW has also leased several hydrogen-powered cars to high-profile individuals.
Ethanol has been used as an alternative fuel source for cars. The Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927, could run on gasoline, ethanol, or a combination of both. In the 1970s, Brazil launched a government-subsidized program to manufacture ethanol fuel and ethanol-powered automobiles. In 2003, Volkswagen built the first commercial ethanol flexible fuel car, the Gol 1.6 Total Flex, which was a commercial success.
Yes, there are several other alternative fuels that have been used in cars. These include compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, propane, biodiesel, methanol, and electricity. With growing environmental concerns, car manufacturers are exploring various alternative fuel sources to offer more sustainable options.
Alternative fuels offer several benefits, including reduced dependence on fossil fuels, lower emissions, and greater sustainability. For example, electric cars produce zero tailpipe emissions and have lower maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts. Biodiesel, derived from waste cooking oil, animal fats, or rapeseed oil, is carbon-neutral and has a higher flashpoint, making it safer to transport and store.
