Rajan Wilcox
With the automotive industry's impact on the environment through carbon emissions becoming an ever-growing concern, car owners are increasingly seeking alternative energy solutions to power their vehicles. There are several alternative fuel sources that can be used to power cars besides fossil fuels, including electricity, hydrogen, biofuels (ethanol fuel, biodiesel, and biogasoline), and natural gas. These alternative fuel sources offer greater sustainability and energy independence, but also come with their own set of challenges and limitations. In this article, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks of each alternative fuel option and discuss their potential impact on the automotive industry and the environment.
Characteristics and Values of Alternative Fuels for Cars
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen | Hydrogen is abundant in the environment and can be used to power fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). It is efficient, has rapid filling times, and emits only water and warm air. |
| Electricity | Gas-electric hybrids use electricity at lower speeds and for starting and stopping motions. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use electricity to power the vehicle over longer distances, with zero emissions when running on battery power. |
| Biodiesel | Biodiesel is made from biodegradable, non-toxic resources like vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled restaurant grease. It is a clean-burning and renewable fuel source, but has lower energy density than fossil diesel fuel. |
| Ethanol | Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made from renewable materials like corn, barley, and wheat. The Ford Model T, produced from 1908-1927, was the first commercial vehicle to use ethanol as fuel. |
| Natural Gas | Natural gas is widely available and burns cleanly. It comes in two forms: CNG (compressed natural gas) and LNG (liquefied natural gas). LNG is used to power medium- to heavy-duty vehicles over long distances. |
| Ammonia | Ammonia has been proposed as an alternative to fossil fuel for internal combustion engines. It leaves no soot and has a similar density to liquid oxygen, simplifying engine design. |
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen fuel
The abundance of hydrogen in the environment makes it a greatly accessible energy source. It is found in water, hydrocarbons, and other organic matter. Hydrogen fuel cells are also scalable, making them a potential zero-emission solution for a broad spectrum of vehicle types, including semi-trailer trucks.
However, hydrogen fuel cells have been criticised by Tesla founder Elon Musk, who has called the technology "mind-bogglingly stupid". The current price of hydrogen is also higher than gasoline, and the process of extracting hydrogen particles is rigorous, resulting in hydrogen having less energy content compared to gasoline or diesel fuel. Furthermore, while fuel cell vehicles themselves only emit water vapour, the production of hydrogen can lead to pollution.
Despite this, several car manufacturers have committed to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Toyota, the world's second-largest automaker, has sold 5,000 of its Mirai hydrogen fuel cell family car since 2015. Honda has also made a significant investment in the technology, with nearly 1,100 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles on US roads as of 2019.
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Biodiesel
One of the key advantages of biodiesel is its independence from conventional petroleum diesel. It is produced from renewable resources, such as soybeans, and has a positive environmental impact. While biodiesel-powered vehicles do emit carbon dioxide (CO2), the amount emitted is offset by the CO2 absorbed by the feedstock crops used to produce the biodiesel. This makes it a cleaner substitute for gasoline or diesel fuel.
Despite these drawbacks, biodiesel has the potential to be a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels for powering cars. It offers improved lubricity, even at low blend levels, and can be used in existing diesel engines with minor modifications. Biodiesel is a promising option for those seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a greener future.
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Natural gas
CNG is natural gas that has been compressed to less than 1% of its volume at standard atmospheric pressure, and it has a fuel economy comparable to gasoline. CNG may be generated and used for bulk storage and pipeline transport of renewable energy, and it can also be mixed with biomethane, which is derived from biogas from landfills or anaerobic digestion. This allows for the use of CNG in mobility with significantly lower carbon emissions compared to regular diesel-powered vehicles.
For vehicles that travel long distances, liquefied natural gas (LNG) offers greater energy density than CNG, making the fuel range more comparable to conventional fuel. LNG is natural gas in its liquid form, typically used to power medium- to heavy-duty vehicles that travel long distances. LNG is stored in cryogenic cylinders at extremely low temperatures, whereas CNG is stored in high-pressure cylinders.
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Ethanol
There are several blends of ethanol available, with the most common being E10, which consists of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Other blends include E15, approved for use in newer light-duty vehicles, and E85 (flex fuel), which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 85%. Brazilian flex-fuel vehicles, for example, can operate with ethanol mixtures up to E100 (neat ethanol fuel). In the United States, the use of ethanol blends is also common, with over 90% of gasoline sold in the country containing some amount of ethanol as of 2010.
One advantage of ethanol is that it can be produced from renewable resources, reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Brazilian ethanol, for instance, is made from leftovers of sugarcane refining, while American ethanol is derived from corn. However, the production of ethanol from corn has been criticised for its high energy consumption and potential impact on food prices due to the large amount of arable land required for crops. Additionally, ethanol has a lower stored energy value than gasoline, which means that vehicles may require more fuel when using ethanol blends.
To utilise ethanol as a fuel, engines may require modifications, especially for higher ethanol concentrations. Engines designed for pure ethanol or high ethanol blends need adjustments to the compression ratio and other internal components. While ethanol has been associated with corrosion and compatibility issues in older vehicles, newer engines are increasingly being manufactured to accommodate various ethanol blends without modification.
Overall, ethanol has both advantages and considerations as an alternative fuel for cars. While it offers a renewable energy source and can power vehicles, the production methods, environmental implications, and engine compatibility are essential factors to address for widespread adoption.
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Electricity
Electric vehicles are often more expensive to purchase than conventional gasoline-powered cars. They also suffer from range limitations due to the scarcity of charging infrastructure. However, EVs have a lower fuel cost than traditional fossil fuel vehicles.
The use of electricity in vehicles is not a new concept. In fact, the first "alternative" engines driven by steam predate the emergence of gasoline/petrol engines in the 1860s and 1870s. It took until the 1930s for gasoline/petrol engines to completely dominate the market.
One advantage of electricity as an alternative fuel is that it can be generated from a variety of sources, including renewable sources such as solar power. This makes it a more flexible option compared to other alternative fuels, which may be limited by resource availability or production capacity.
Additionally, electricity can be used to power electric motors in fuel cell vehicles, such as those powered by hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use a fuel cell to generate electricity, with water vapour as the only byproduct. This technology allows these vehicles to run on electricity without relying solely on battery power.
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Frequently asked questions
Some alternative fuels to power cars include electricity, hydrogen, and biofuels. Biofuels include biodiesel, ethanol fuel, and biogasoline.
Electric cars are zero-emission vehicles, meaning they emit no carbon dioxide. They also have lower fuel costs than conventional gasoline-powered cars. However, they often have a higher purchase price.
Hydrogen is abundant in the environment and can be found in water, hydrocarbons, and other organic matter. Hydrogen-powered cars are efficient, have rapid filling times, and only emit water and warm air.
