Alternative Fuel Sources For Cars

There are several alternative fuel sources for cars in production or use currently. Alternative fuel sources are crucial to reduce dependence on foreign fossil fuel and the impact of climate change.

By definition, alternative fuel sources for cars are those that come from sources other than petroleum (fossil fuel). One of their main advantages is that often they can be produced locally, thus eliminating the need to import fuel. The 1970s oil crisis was a wake-up call to the need to be self-reliant when it comes to energy. Besides that, alternative fuel sources for cars also tend to produce less pollution. Because of that, the government sometimes gives tax incentives to those who purchase cars running on alternative fuel sources. One of the most popular alternative fuel sources for cars is ethanol. Ethanol is pure alcohol fermented and distilled from sugarcane and starch crops such as corn, barley and wheat. In 2005 President Bush passed a bill requiring 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol to be introduced into the economy. The most widely used blend of ethanol is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, also known as E85 blend. Many vehicles that are not officially flexible fuel vehicles can run with no problems on a lower blend of ethanol E10 that is, 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. In some parts of the country commercial vehicles are required to run E10 fuel.

Biodiesel is another popular type of alternative biofuel sources for cars. It is produced from vegetable oil and animal fats, soybean oil and restaurant grease being the most popular sources of biodiesel. 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum (B20) diesel is the most popular use of biodiesel, which requires no engine modification, unlike B100, which would require a few engine modifications to prevent performance problems caused by gelling.

Even though natural gas is a fossil fuel, it is usually listed alongside alternative fuel sources for cars because it generates less air pollutants and greenhouse gases (90% less carbon monoxide than standard fossil fuel). Natural gas is produced from gas wells or through crude oil production. It can be stored and transported as compressed gas or in liquid form and it�s already available through a nationwide distribution infrastructure. There are over 130,000 natural gas vehicles in the United States. They cost less to operate than gasoline or diesel vehicles, but the cost to purchase a natural gas vehicle is higher. Retrofitting a conventional vehicle costs a few thousand dollars. Hydrogen is a much talked about alternative fuel source for cars but still far from mass adoption. Fuel cell vehicles powered by pure hydrogen are extremely clean but they are not available to the general public yet and we may have to wait until the 2020�s to see them on the streets.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), also known as propane, is a type of alternative fuel source for cars that fuels over 9 million vehicles worldwide. It consists of a mixture of gasses manufactured during the process of crude oil refinement. It costs less than standard gas but the vehicle needs to be retrofitted and will cover fewer miles per tank.