Katerina Swanson
The energy sources used to fuel cars have evolved over time, with a growing emphasis on sustainability and reducing environmental impact. Gasoline and diesel, derived from crude oil, are the dominant transportation fuels, but alternatives like electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining traction. EVs are more efficient, producing fewer emissions, and can be charged using electricity from the electrical grid. Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are also used, blended with gasoline or diesel, while natural gas and propane power some vehicles. Hydrogen, with its efficiency and clean emissions, is another emerging option for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). As the automotive industry seeks sustainable solutions, the range of energy sources to fuel cars is expanding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most common energy sources | Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel |
| Alternative energy sources | Propane, Hydrogen, Electricity, Ethanol, Biodiesel |
| Most common alternative energy source | Propane |
| Energy source with the greatest accessibility | Hydrogen |
| Energy source with the greatest efficiency | Electricity |
| Energy source with the greatest sustainability | Propane |
| Energy source with the greatest affordability | Propane |
| Energy source with the greatest driving range | Gasoline |
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Electric vehicles (EVs)
EVs have several advantages over traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. Firstly, they are more efficient, with lower energy loss during operation. While gasoline-powered cars waste around 80% of the energy pumped into their gas tanks, EVs operate with only about 11% energy loss, ensuring that most of the energy is utilised for turning the wheels. Additionally, EVs can recapture energy during braking, further enhancing their overall efficiency. Secondly, EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, making them environmentally friendly. This is especially beneficial in addressing climate change concerns and reducing carbon pollution.
The history of EVs dates back to the early 1900s, when they were popular and even outsold gasoline-powered vehicles. In 1900, 28% of cars on US roads were electric, including those used by President Woodrow Wilson and his secret service agents. However, various factors contributed to a decline in their popularity over time, including the discovery of large petroleum reserves, improved road infrastructure requiring longer ranges, and the mass production of gasoline-powered vehicles, which reduced their cost compared to EVs.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the adoption of EVs due to advancements in technology and growing environmental concerns. The market for electric vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and recreational vehicles, has been growing. Improvements in battery technology have increased the range and performance of EVs, making them more appealing to consumers. Additionally, the increasing availability of public charging stations and incentives, such as federal tax credits, have made the transition to EVs more attractive.
Despite the higher purchase price of EVs compared to conventional gasoline-powered cars, the cost of electricity as a fuel is generally lower. Furthermore, EVs require much less energy to operate than gasoline-powered vehicles, resulting in significant energy savings over time. The efficiency of EVs is expected to improve further as the electricity supply becomes more efficient and less carbon-intensive.
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Hydrogen-powered cars
The most common energy sources used to fuel cars are gasoline and diesel. However, with growing concerns about the automotive industry's environmental impact, alternative energy solutions are being sought. One such solution is hydrogen, which is used to power fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Hydrogen is abundant in the environment, found in water, hydrocarbons, and other organic matter.
A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (HFCV) uses an electric motor to turn the wheels, similar to a battery-electric car. However, instead of a large, heavy battery, it is powered by a fuel-cell stack where pure hydrogen (H2) combines with oxygen (O2) from the air to produce electricity and water vapour. This makes HFCVs technically a series hybrid, and they are sometimes classified as fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEV). The experience of driving an HFCV is almost identical to driving a battery-electric vehicle, although HFCVs are not as well-suited to faster speeds.
One of the main appeals of FCEVs is their efficiency and rapid filling times, as well as the fact that they only emit water vapour and warm air. However, extracting hydrogen particles is a rigorous process, and as a result, hydrogen contains less energy content compared to gasoline or diesel fuel. There are also currently very few hydrogen-powered vehicles on the roads, with only about 17,000 in the US as of mid-2022, and all of them are in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
The Toyota Mirai is one example of a hydrogen-powered car, combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air to generate power without creating tailpipe emissions. The hydrogen from the fuel tank and the air entering from the intake grille meet in the Fuel Cell Stack, where a chemical reaction creates electricity to power the car.
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Biofuels
The energy source that fuels our cars has traditionally been gasoline or diesel, but with growing concerns about the environmental impact of carbon emissions, alternative energy solutions are being sought. One such alternative is biofuels, which can be used to power vehicles with internal combustion engines.
Ethanol is another type of biofuel that is made from renewable materials such as crops like corn, barley, and wheat. It is blended with gasoline for use in vehicles, with the most common blend being E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline). Other blends include E15 and E85, a 'flex fuel' that can be used in vehicles that operate on gasoline alone or a blend of up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Like biodiesel, the crops used to produce ethanol offset any CO2 emitted during the combustion process, improving energy security and air quality.
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Petroleum
Petrol engines typically use spark ignition, where the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber, combined with air, and then ignited by a spark from the spark plug. Petrol engines can also be adapted to run on liquefied petroleum gas, or propane, which is a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. Propane is a clean-burning fuel that presents no threat to soil or water and is domestically available through existing infrastructure.
While electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower energy use and carbon emissions, gasoline still remains the most widely used fuel for cars. However, gasoline-powered vehicles are major contributors to carbon emissions and have been criticized for their environmental impact. In contrast, EVs operate with a much lower energy loss, as most of the energy that goes into the car is used to turn the wheels, and they can also recapture energy during braking.
In addition to liquefied petroleum gas and electricity, there are other alternative fuel sources for cars, such as biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen, and diesel. These fuels offer greater sustainability and reduced emissions compared to gasoline. However, some of these alternatives, like biodiesel, can be more expensive due to limited production and lower energy content.
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Ethanol and biodiesel
Ethanol
Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) is a renewable fuel that can be made from various plant materials, collectively known as biomass. It is an alcohol used as a blending agent with gasoline to increase octane and reduce carbon monoxide and other smog-causing emissions. The most common blend of ethanol is E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline), which is approved for use in most conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. Some vehicles, called flexible fuel vehicles, are designed to run on E85, a gasoline-ethanol blend containing 51-83% ethanol, depending on geography and season. Ethanol is typically made from plant starches and sugars, particularly corn starch in the United States, but can also be produced from cellulosic feedstocks such as wood chips, crop residues, and sugar cane.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a liquid fuel produced from renewable sources, such as new and used vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking grease. It is a cleaner-burning replacement for petroleum-based diesel fuel and can be blended with petroleum diesel in any percentage. Biodiesel is non-toxic, biodegradable, and produced by combining alcohol with vegetable oil, animal fat, or recycled cooking grease. It is used to fuel compression-ignition (diesel) engines and has similar properties to petroleum-derived diesel. However, biodiesel has 10% less energy content, which means biodiesel-powered vehicles require more fuel than standard diesel cars, and its distribution network is lacking due to limited production.
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Frequently asked questions
Gasoline and diesel are the most common energy sources used to fuel cars. In 2021, motor gasoline accounted for 58% of total US transportation energy use, while diesel accounted for 24%.
Some alternative energy sources used to fuel cars include electricity, propane, hydrogen, ethanol, and biodiesel.
Yes, electric vehicles are more efficient than gasoline-powered vehicles. They require much less energy to operate and have lower energy loss, with most of the energy going towards turning the wheels.
Using alternative energy sources to fuel cars can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and provide greater sustainability. Alternative energy sources may also have lower fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions, improving energy security and air quality.
