Rajan Wilcox
The majority of cars are fuelled by gasoline, which is a petroleum-based fossil fuel. However, there are other fuels that can power cars, such as diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), and hydrogen. Electric cars are also becoming increasingly popular, and some cars even use a hybrid drivetrain of different power sources. In the past, there has been interest in water-fuelled cars, but these have been proven to be pseudoscientific.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most common fuel type | Gasoline |
| Alternative fuel types | Diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, electricity |
| Most common alternative fuel type | Diesel |
| Other alternative fuel candidates | Isooctane, methanol, ethanol |
| Most common alternative fuel vehicles | Honda, Mitsubishi, Ford, McLaren, Porsche, BYD, Cadillac, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Hyundai, Toyota |
| Most common electric vehicles | Tesla, GEM, Nissan, Smart, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Citroën, Chery, JAC, Renault, BMW, Honda, RAV4, Kia, BYD, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet, Fiat, Porsche |
| Number of flex-fuel vehicles by end of 2021 | 65 million |
| Top market for flex-fuel vehicles | Brazil |
| Number of flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil | 38.3 million |
| Number of flex-fuel vehicles in the US | 27 million |
| Number of highway-capable plug-in hybrid electric cars sold worldwide as of December 2015 | 500,000 |
| Top-selling plug-in hybrid in the world | Volt/Ampera family |
| Number of units sold by top-selling plug-in hybrid in the world | 134,500 |
| Second-best selling plug-in hybrid in the world | Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV |
| Number of units sold by second-best selling plug-in hybrid in the world | 119,500 |
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What You'll Learn
Gasoline
The process of using gasoline as fuel involves filling the tank via a fuel dispenser nozzle, which then transfers the fuel through a fuel line to the engine's fuel injection system. The fuel is injected into either the intake manifold or the combustion chamber, where it combines with air and is ignited by a spark plug. This combustion process releases carbon dioxide and water as exhaust.
The energy content of gasoline blends can vary depending on the season and producer, and its performance can be enhanced with additives. The octane rating of gasoline is crucial, as it measures its ability to resist premature ignition, which can cause knocking and reduce engine efficiency.
While gasoline remains a popular choice, there is a growing interest in alternative fuels, such as diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), and biofuels like ethanol, which offer improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.
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Diesel
In addition to cars, diesel fuel is used in a variety of vehicles and equipment, including trucks, trains, boats, barges, buses, construction equipment, and military vehicles. It is also used in diesel engine generators to provide backup and emergency power supply in many industrial facilities, large buildings, hospitals, and remote villages.
The use of diesel fuel has some environmental impacts. While advancements have been made to reduce emissions, diesel fuel still contributes to air pollution, particularly from older vehicles. To mitigate this, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set requirements to reduce the sulfur content of diesel fuel and established emissions standards for diesel engine highway vehicles.
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Compressed natural gas
CNG vehicles operate similarly to gasoline-powered vehicles. The engine functions the same way as a gasoline engine. The CNG fuel system transfers high-pressure gas from the fuel tank through the fuel lines, where a pressure regulator reduces the pressure to a level that the engine fuel injection system can handle. The fuel is then introduced into the intake manifold or combustion chamber, where it is mixed with air and then compressed and ignited by a spark plug.
CNG is considered a safer fuel option than petrol. It has a high auto-ignition temperature and a narrow range of flammability. It also emits significantly fewer pollutants directly than petrol or oil when combusted, including unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate matter. For example, an engine running on petrol for 100 km produces 22 kilograms of CO2, while covering the same distance on CNG emits only 16.3 kilograms of CO2.
CNG is also more cost-effective than petrol, costing about 50% less. However, CNG vehicles require more space for fuel storage than conventional petrol-powered vehicles. The cylinders used to store the CNG can take up space in the trunk of a car or bed of a pickup truck. This issue is resolved in factory-built CNG vehicles, which install the cylinders under the body of the vehicle, leaving the trunk free.
CNG locomotives are also used by several railroads. These are typically diesel-electric locomotives that have been converted to use compressed natural gas generators instead of diesel generators to generate electricity for the traction motors.
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Electric
One of the main advantages of electric cars is their environmental impact. Electric cars produce zero tailpipe emissions, which helps reduce local air pollution. They do not emit exhaust pollutants such as volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, and various oxides of nitrogen. This results in a lower carbon footprint, even when considering the emissions from the power plants supplying the electricity.
The development of electric cars gained momentum in the early 1990s when the California Air Resources Board (CARB) pushed for more fuel-efficient and lower-emission vehicles. Despite initial setbacks, companies like Tesla Motors pioneered the mass production of electric cars, with the Tesla Roadster being the first highway-legal all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells. Today, electric car sales are on the rise, and the total cost of ownership of recent electric cars is often cheaper than equivalent gasoline cars in the EU and US.
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Biofuels
However, there are also some disadvantages to biofuels. They still produce CO2 when burned, and the energy required to produce biofuels may mean that they produce more CO2 than fossil fuels. In addition, using land to grow plants for biofuels means that less land is available for growing crops for food, and there is an environmental impact from clearing forests for biofuel farmland. Finally, biofuels are not yet fully compatible with all engines, and they are not yet developed enough for mainstream use.
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Frequently asked questions
Cars can be fuelled by a variety of sources, including gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, electricity, and coal.
Gasoline-fuelled cars, also known as petrol-fuelled cars, are the most common type of car. Gasoline is a petroleum-based fossil fuel that is injected into the engine's combustion chamber, where it is combined with air and ignited by a spark plug.
Alternative fuels for cars include diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, and electricity. Electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf, are becoming increasingly popular and offer a renewable and environmentally friendly option.
