Regan Brown
Modern cars are predominantly fuelled by gasoline or petrol, which is a specialized fossil fuel designed for four-stroke engines. Gasoline is highly combustible, allowing for quick ignition, acceleration, and efficient combustion. However, the burning of gasoline releases high levels of carbon dioxide, contributing significantly to pollution and global warming. As a result, there is a growing need to adopt more renewable and environmentally friendly fuel sources. Diesel, another popular fuel option, is widely used in transport vehicles like trucks, buses, and trains, offering better fuel efficiency than gasoline. Diesel engines produce less carbon dioxide but create nitrous oxide, which causes smog. To address environmental concerns, alternative fuels such as ethanol, compressed natural gas (CNG), and liquefied petroleum (propane) are gaining traction. Ethanol, a biofuel made from natural products, can power gasoline engines without modifications and reduce emissions. CNG, a clear and non-corrosive gas, can also power combustion engines with lower emissions. Liquefied petroleum, used in some hybrid cars, produces fewer toxins and is less expensive than gasoline. Additionally, some vehicles are exploring the use of battery-electric power, though the range and power of batteries currently fall short of gasoline-powered cars.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first modern car | 1886 |
| Inventor of the first modern car | Carl Benz |
| Fuel used by the first modern car | Gasoline |
| Current primary fuel source for cars | Petroleum |
| Percentage of US vehicles that use petroleum | 98% |
| Other fuel sources | Diesel, biodiesel, renewable diesel, biofuels, natural gas, electricity, methanol |
| Percentage of cars that are electric | 9% |
| Percentage of cars that are fully electric or plug-in hybrid | 2% |
| Fuel type with the highest environmental impact | Gasoline |
| Fuel type with the lowest environmental impact | Electric |
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What You'll Learn
Electric cars
The rise of electric cars can be attributed to several factors, including increased concerns over the environmental impact of gasoline cars, higher gasoline prices, improvements in battery technology, and the prospect of peak oil. By the end of 2021, there were over 16 million electric cars on the world's roads, with nine per cent of all cars sold that year being electric. This shift towards electrification is expected to continue, with predictions that electric cars will cost less to buy than petrol-driven cars before 2025.
One of the main advantages of electric cars is their efficiency. Electric motors are technically more efficient than gasoline or diesel engines and can provide cheaper operation per mile. However, this depends on the local cost of electricity versus gasoline or diesel. Electric cars also benefit from regenerative braking, which recovers and returns some energy to the battery that would otherwise be lost as heat with traditional friction brakes. This improves efficiency, especially in city driving.
Despite their benefits, electric cars do have some drawbacks. One of the main concerns for potential EV shoppers is "range anxiety". Electric cars tend to have shorter ranges than traditional cars and require recharging, which can take longer than refuelling a gasoline or diesel car. Additionally, electric cars often have higher upfront costs than traditional cars, although this is expected to change in the coming years.
Overall, electric cars are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. With improvements in technology and a growing focus on environmental sustainability, electric cars are likely to play a significant role in the future of the automotive industry.
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Hydrogen-fuelled cars
Modern-day cars are predominantly fuelled by petrol burnt in an internal combustion engine (ICE). However, electric cars have gained traction in recent years, with major manufacturers aiming to make them dominant by 2030. Another alternative to petrol-driven cars is hydrogen-fuelled cars, which are powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) use an electric motor to turn the wheels, similar to battery-electric cars. However, instead of a large, heavy battery, HFCVs are powered by a fuel cell stack where pure hydrogen passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen from the air, generating electricity and water vapour. This process makes HFCVs technically a series hybrid, and they are sometimes classified as fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEVs).
As of 2022, there were approximately 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, all located in California, which is the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations. By contrast, there were almost three million electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the US during the same period. Several car companies have offered hydrogen-powered cars for sale, including Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota. However, sales of these vehicles have been relatively low compared to their electric counterparts.
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Gasoline-powered cars
The first modern car, a practical and marketable automobile for everyday use, was developed in 1886 by Carl Benz, who created a gasoline-powered automobile and made several identical copies. This marked the birth year of the modern car, and many inventors and entrepreneurs soon entered the "horseless carriage" business, rapidly furthering the development and production of automobiles.
While gasoline-powered cars have been a popular choice for many years due to their simplicity, reliability, and ease of maintenance and repair, they also have significant drawbacks, mainly their impact on the environment. Burning gasoline releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants, contributing to air pollution and climate change. They are also less fuel-efficient than electric vehicles, resulting in higher fuel costs and increased carbon emissions.
However, gasoline-powered cars still have some advantages over electric vehicles. They are generally less expensive to purchase, especially when bought used, and they have a longer range before needing to be refuelled compared to electric vehicles, which need to be recharged more frequently.
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Diesel-powered cars
Historically, the adoption of the diesel engine has been a significant development in the modern era of automobiles, alongside the proliferation of front- and all-wheel drive and the ubiquity of fuel injection. Diesel is a type of hydrocarbon fossil fuel that is burnt by deflagration in internal combustion engines, along with petrol, autogas, and CNG.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in electric cars due to increased concerns over the environmental impact of gasoline and diesel cars, higher fuel prices, and improvements in battery technology. Electric cars were invented early in the history of the car and have become increasingly popular as a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional fuel-powered vehicles.
While diesel-powered cars may be less common than they once were, they still play a role in the current automotive landscape, particularly for specific vehicle types such as trucks and SUVs, and for those seeking used vehicles.
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Methanol-fuelled cars
Most cars in the early 2020s run on petrol burnt in an internal combustion engine (ICE). However, electric cars, which were invented early in the history of the car, became commercially available in the 2000s. The transition from fossil fuel-powered cars to electric cars is a prominent feature of climate change mitigation plans.
Methanol is an affordable substitute for gasoline and diesel in countries looking to transition away from fuels that contribute to high levels of local air pollution. Methanol-fuelled boilers in China generate heat and steam for industrial applications, and methanol provides a heat source for commercial and residential applications like kilns and cooking stoves. Methanol can be used as a fuel for thermal applications, including industrial boilers, kilns, heating furnaces, and cooking fuel.
In 2022, the worldwide biomethanol market was valued at around 120 million USD. Most of it is currently made from biomass. However, the vast majority of methanol produced globally is made with gas and coal. Methanol produced from biomass is sometimes called biomethanol. Biomethanol is primarily produced by gasification of biomass.
Methanol has a high octane rating of 114, which can achieve a higher thermal efficiency and power output compared to gasoline in engines designed for methanol use. However, it is also less volatile and burns at a lower temperature than gasoline, making it harder to start and warm up an engine in cold weather. Methanol also has a relatively low specific energy of around 17 MJ/kg compared to 34 MJ/kg for gasoline, resulting in higher fuel consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
Most cars in the early 2020s run on fossil fuels, such as petrol, burnt in an internal combustion engine. However, electric cars are becoming more popular, with 9% of cars sold in 2021 being electric.
Electric cars are perceived to be more environmentally friendly, cheaper to maintain, and more efficient than traditional cars. They are also predicted to cost less to buy than petrol-driven cars before 2025.
Examples of electric cars include the first electric car, invented by William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa, in 1891, and the Flocken Elektrowagen of 1888, considered by some as the first actual electric car. More recently, in 2018, the Chinese car startup AIWays unveiled a methanol fuel cell sports car at the Beijing Motor Show.
Alternative fuels to petrol include diesel, autogas, CNG, biofuels, natural gas, and methanol.
