Sylvie Willis
With the world's oil reserves depleting and environmental concerns growing, the search for alternative fuels for cars has become increasingly important. Electric cars are becoming more and more popular, but they are not the only alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Other options include biofuels, hydrogen, ammonia, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Some of these alternative fuels can be used in existing engines with only minor modifications, while others require more significant changes to the vehicle and the refueling infrastructure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Biodiesel, Ethanol, Electricity, Coal, Propane/Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Hydrogen, Compressed Air, Vegetable Oil, Solar Energy, Natural Gas |
| Fuel Source | Vegetable Oils, Animal Fats, Recycled Cooking Grease, Corn and Other Plant Materials, Batteries, Power Plants, Corn, Sugar Cane, Gasoline, Hydrogen Plants, Air, Vegetable Oil, Sun, Livestock Waste, Organic Waste |
| Emissions | Reduced emissions, zero tailpipe emissions, no harmful tailpipe emissions, lower emissions |
| Efficiency | Improved efficiency, longer ranges, reduced fuel consumption, twice the fuel economy of conventional vehicles |
| Energy Security | Increased energy security, reduced dependence on foreign energy sources |
| Infrastructure | Public charging stations, hydrogen refuel infrastructure, filling stations with ethanol pumps, propane fuelling sites |
| Cost | Cheaper, competitively priced, more affordable |
| Speed | Quick charges |
| Power | Instant torque |
| Sound | Quiet driver experience |
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What You'll Learn
Electric cars
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional cars that run on petrol or diesel. EVs use electricity as their primary fuel and are powered by rechargeable battery packs. They are energy-efficient, with zero tailpipe emissions, and are known for providing instant torque and a quiet driving experience.
The adoption of EVs is being encouraged by governments and organisations worldwide as they help improve efficiency, cut costs, and reduce emissions. For example, the Massachusetts Clean Cities Coalition promotes the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles and supports the development of the infrastructure necessary to make them viable transportation options. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office provides project assistance, technical expertise, and funding to help stakeholders implement alternative fuels and EVs.
While there are some concerns around the infrastructure for EVs, such as charging stations and battery longevity, the number of public charging stations is rapidly increasing, and advancements in battery technology are making EVs more affordable, efficient, and practical for everyday use.
EVs come in various types, including all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid. Hybrid vehicles are fuelled with liquid fuels like petrol but use batteries to recapture energy that would otherwise be lost during braking, boosting fuel economy. Plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles, on the other hand, rely solely on electricity to power their electric motors and batteries.
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Hydrogen fuel
However, there are challenges to using hydrogen as a fuel. Hydrogen is difficult to efficiently extract, and producing hydrogen can lead to pollution. The current price of hydrogen is also higher than gasoline. Nevertheless, renewable sources of hydrogen, such as agricultural and waste sites, are increasing, and governments in Australia have announced plans for hydrogen fuel cell vehicle projects, including funding to support the construction of hydrogen refuelling stations.
In the United States, hydrogen fuel cell cars qualify for many consumer incentives. For example, new vehicles purchased in 2023 or after may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. Fuel cell cars also qualify for the Clean Air Vehicle decal, allowing solo access to carpool lanes.
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Biodiesel
Using biodiesel as a vehicle fuel increases energy security, improves air quality, and provides safety benefits. It reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 74% compared to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel also improves fuel lubricity and raises the cetane number of the fuel, making it easier for the engine to start and reducing ignition delay.
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Ethanol
The use of ethanol in internal combustion engines (ICEs) requires the engines to be designed or modified for that purpose. Anhydrous ethanol, which contains no water, can be blended with gasoline for use in gasoline engines, but with a high ethanol content, engine modifications are needed to meter the increased fuel volume. This is because ethanol contains only two-thirds the energy of an equivalent volume of pure gasoline. However, the high octane rating of ethanol allows for very high-compression, high-performance engines that use the fuel much more efficiently.
Several common ethanol fuel mixtures are in use around the world. The most common blend is E10 (10% ethanol, 90% petrol). Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel), a high-level ethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol. E15 is a blend of 10.5% to 15% ethanol with petrol. In Brazil, neat ethanol fuel (E100) is commonly used in flex-fuel vehicles, which can operate with ethanol mixtures up to E100.
There are two main processes for producing ethanol from corn. The first generation process uses only the starch from corn kernels, which represents about 50% of the dry kernel mass. Two types of second-generation processes are under development, which use enzymes and yeast fermentation or pyrolysis to convert the entire plant into ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol, which uses biomass, waste, or coproducts of another industry as feedstocks, improves the energy balance of ethanol production and results in lower levels of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions.
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Biogas CNG
Natural gas has been used as a motor vehicle fuel since the 1930s. However, with the increased focus on electricity, ethanol, and other alternative fuels, fewer and fewer CNG-powered passenger vehicles have been offered in recent years. CNG, or Compressed Natural Gas, is a fossil fuel that is predominantly methane (CH4). It can also be obtained through the process of anaerobic digestion in a digester or in landfills, earning the name Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) or Biomethane. This is a renewable and carbon-neutral fuel.
CNG is a mature technology that is safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly. It is compatible with renewable natural gas infrastructure, and its use can help vehicle manufacturers meet emissions targets and avoid fines. CNG burns much cleaner than gasoline, reducing carbon monoxide emissions by 90-97% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 35-60%. It also produces fewer carcinogenic pollutants and little to no particulate matter.
Bio-CNG is an innovative vehicle fuel that allows hauliers to decarbonize their Heavy Goods Vehicles. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste such as food waste, sewage, and cattle manure. The biogas is dried and upgraded to a primarily methane stream that is injected into the gas grid as biomethane. The biomethane is then extracted and used to fuel trucks.
Bio-CNG offers several benefits, including significantly reduced carbon emissions and cost reductions. It can facilitate cost reductions for long-haul HGVs, as the fuel cost per mile can be around 30% lower than diesel. There are a growing number of public access Bio-CNG stations across Great Britain, and Bio-CNG projects are being undertaken by companies such as CNG Services Ltd.
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Frequently asked questions
Some alternative fuels for cars include electricity, biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen, and propane.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking grease for use in diesel vehicles.
Using alternative fuels can help to improve efficiency, cut costs, and reduce emissions.
