The rapid growth of technological development and technical innovations attract more and more people to use vehicles. Nowadays vehicles are necessity rather than luxury. Therefore pollution due vehicle fuels has become one of the severest problems in big cities. Several alternative fuels have been developed for recent years.
Fuel cells are complicated appliances that generate electricity using hydrogen gas. This technology increases the efficiency of energy and uses less fuel, thus better economy, and produces fewer emissions thus cutting down on the production of pollutants like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. The economic feasibility of this type of vehicles is obscured by the unavailability of free hydrogen and the difficulty in the storage and the distribution of the gas. Fuel cell powered vehicles are about twice as efficient as the internal combustion engines and thus are economically superior.
These cars are environmentally friendly and run nearly silent. The ‘fuel' for electric cars costs a lot less per mile than it does for gasoline vehicles. The disadvantages of the electric car is that the batteries are heavy, they charge slowly, have a limited capacity thus limiting the range of the vehicle, are bulky, have a short life and are fairly expensive. These reasons have resulted to a frail consumer interest and this has related economic back draws.
Hydrogen gas as a fuel promises to eliminate all pollution problems created by the fossil fuels. This is a clean technology that only produces water as the by product. There are no environmental dangers like oil spills to worry about with hydrogen. In cases where the hydrogen gas is derived from the electrolysis of water, no green house gases are added to the environment due to the fact that there is a perfect cycle-with the electrolysis producing hydrogen from water and then the hydrogen recombining with oxygen to create water and power.
Tip! Finding solutions to the transportation element in our daily lives is very important. There's much confidence that with the attention level rather high that a better solution(s) with soon be found regarding alternative fuel.
The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com. Sharon White has many years of a vast experience in management essays writing and Macbeth essays writing consulting. Get free samples of essays, coursework and comparative essays .
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
New Corvette Z06 - An Alternative to Typical Fuel Efficiency Cars
The Detroit News Online's Auto Insider reported that the Corvette Z06's fuel efficiency may rival the Honda Civic Hybrid in an editorial story written last week.
With gas as high as three dollars a gallon, American consumers are looking for alternative car makes and models that will guzzle less gas. Some may be looking for less voracious fuel connoisseurs to replace the his and her matching 10 miles-per-gallon Hummers and Lexus SUVs. Others may be considering different cars to lessen the overtaxing of the world's natural resources and pollution of the environment. Most consumers have good intentions, but are unlikely to sacrifice prestige and style for economy and practicality. It's not the American way.
When speaking on the subject of fuel efficient cars, people equate economical value (or perceived value) of the car itself with fuel efficiency. These two subjects are not mutually exclusive.
Consumer Reports magazine revealed a list of compact and subcompact car make and model recommendations for those seeking functionality over flash and performance.
The Top Three Most Fuel Efficient Cars 1. Honda Insight 2. Toyota Prius 3. Honda Civic Hybrid.
As you can see, these practical cars do not take into account more higher-end cars with just as efficient fuel intake. What if you could have both fuel efficiency and a classic, stylish, American body style? John McCormick from the Detroit Auto Insider says you can.
"For some years this icon of American sports cars [Corvette Z06] has actually been a closet fuel miser, but few people have recognized the fact. I just drove a brand new Z06, the current king of the hill 'Vette, with a tire-shredding 500 horsepower on tap, and managed an impressive trip average of 23.4 mpg...a fast car is not automatically a gas hog. To underscore the point, I took a similar journey in a minivan and found myself consuming just over 20 mpg," said John McCormick from Detroit's Auto Insider.
Tip! There's a lot of hope that alternative fuel technologies developed by some of the smaller companies will become commercially viable and help support the sector. As a result, stocks for these companies are expected to soar.
Why is a Z06 a good buy when it comes to gas?
It's science at work here. Weight and aerodynamic drag are two primary enemies of fuel efficiency, which explains why heavy, blunt-faced, traditional sport utility vehicles and minivans generally suck down fuel and the sleek, relatively light-weight Z06 burns conservatively.
So if you are the 40 something or 50 something baby boomer accused of buying a Corvette because of a mid-life crisis, you can retort by pointing out your Corvette gets more miles-to-the-gallon than your buddy's Land Rover or minivan. This also works well as justified logic for your wife. You're welcome.
Neil Lemons represents http://www.CorvetteGearUSA.com Corvette Gear USA offers C5 & C6 Corvette apparel and Corvette merchandise for enthusiasts, lovers, and fans. A subsidiary of Athalon Sports Goods, Corvette Gear USA offers the latest in Corvette clothing & bags.
With gas as high as three dollars a gallon, American consumers are looking for alternative car makes and models that will guzzle less gas. Some may be looking for less voracious fuel connoisseurs to replace the his and her matching 10 miles-per-gallon Hummers and Lexus SUVs. Others may be considering different cars to lessen the overtaxing of the world's natural resources and pollution of the environment. Most consumers have good intentions, but are unlikely to sacrifice prestige and style for economy and practicality. It's not the American way.
When speaking on the subject of fuel efficient cars, people equate economical value (or perceived value) of the car itself with fuel efficiency. These two subjects are not mutually exclusive.
Consumer Reports magazine revealed a list of compact and subcompact car make and model recommendations for those seeking functionality over flash and performance.
The Top Three Most Fuel Efficient Cars 1. Honda Insight 2. Toyota Prius 3. Honda Civic Hybrid.
As you can see, these practical cars do not take into account more higher-end cars with just as efficient fuel intake. What if you could have both fuel efficiency and a classic, stylish, American body style? John McCormick from the Detroit Auto Insider says you can.
"For some years this icon of American sports cars [Corvette Z06] has actually been a closet fuel miser, but few people have recognized the fact. I just drove a brand new Z06, the current king of the hill 'Vette, with a tire-shredding 500 horsepower on tap, and managed an impressive trip average of 23.4 mpg...a fast car is not automatically a gas hog. To underscore the point, I took a similar journey in a minivan and found myself consuming just over 20 mpg," said John McCormick from Detroit's Auto Insider.
Tip! There's a lot of hope that alternative fuel technologies developed by some of the smaller companies will become commercially viable and help support the sector. As a result, stocks for these companies are expected to soar.
Why is a Z06 a good buy when it comes to gas?
It's science at work here. Weight and aerodynamic drag are two primary enemies of fuel efficiency, which explains why heavy, blunt-faced, traditional sport utility vehicles and minivans generally suck down fuel and the sleek, relatively light-weight Z06 burns conservatively.
So if you are the 40 something or 50 something baby boomer accused of buying a Corvette because of a mid-life crisis, you can retort by pointing out your Corvette gets more miles-to-the-gallon than your buddy's Land Rover or minivan. This also works well as justified logic for your wife. You're welcome.
Neil Lemons represents http://www.CorvetteGearUSA.com Corvette Gear USA offers C5 & C6 Corvette apparel and Corvette merchandise for enthusiasts, lovers, and fans. A subsidiary of Athalon Sports Goods, Corvette Gear USA offers the latest in Corvette clothing & bags.
All About Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles
The history of the fuel cell can be traced back to the 19th century. Since then the development and usage of fuel cells in a variety of applications have come a long way. Fuel cells hold great promise for fueling alternative fuel vehicles. Here is some of the history of the development of fuel cells:
* William Grove invented the fuel cell in 1839.
* General Electric invented proton exchange membrane fuel cells in the 1950s
* Francis Bacon demonstrated a 5kW alkaline fuel cell in 1959.
* NASA's use of fuel cells during the Apollo space missions in the 1960s was the first commercial use of fuel cells.
* Alkaline fuel cells have flown over 100 missions and operated for more than 80,000 hours in spacecrafts operated by NASA.
* The US Navy has been using fuel cells in submarines since the 1980s
* Fuel cell buses are running in several cities around the world, the largest being the European Union backed CUTE project (Clean Urban Transport for Europe).
* All major automakers have prototypes of alternative fuel vehicles using fuel cells on the road-some have already been leased to customers.
* Iceland has plans to convert its fishing fleet from diesel engines to hydrogen fuel cells as part of a national project to create a fossil fuel free economy
* Several car manufacturers are hoping to produce their first semi-commercial models of fuel cell cars by 2005, yet they will most probably not be mass produced until 2010.
* Numerous fuel cell products will be coming to market-portable direct methanol fuel cells will power mobile phones, laptops and cameras in the near future
* A fuel cell is around 60% efficient at converting fuel to power, double the efficiency of an internal combustion gas engine-which makes it perfect for alternative fuel vehicles.
Fuel cells have several advantages over conventional power sources like internal combustion gas engines or batteries. Additionally, there are disadvantages facing manufacturers hoping to commercialize fuel cells. See how they stack up as the next best fuel for alternative fuel vehicles.
Advantages
* Fuel cells reduce pollution that is caused by the burning of fossil fuels-their only by-product is water
* If the hydrogen used in the fuel cell comes from the electrolysis of water, then using fuel cells will eliminate greenhouse gases
* Because fuel cells don't need conventional fuels like oil or gas, they eliminate economic dependence on politically unstable countries
* Since hydrogen can be manufactured anywhere there is water and electricity, production of potential fuel can be allocated in various areas
* Fuel cells operate at a higher efficiency than diesel or gas engines which makes them an ideal source of efficient power for alternative fuel vehicles
* Most fuel cells operate silently, while internal combustion engines do not
* Fuel cells can operate for longer times than batteries, therefore to double the operating time, only the fuel needs to be doubled and not the capacity of the unit itself
Tip! Not being one of the major alternative fuel sources for cars, solar power is actually a very useful one and what's more it will always be available for us to use. The main application of solar power is in our houses where with a few solar panels we can provide all the heating and the hot water we will need.
* The maintenance of fuel cells is relatively straightforward since there are few moving parts in the system
Disadvantages
* Energizing fuel cells continues to be a major problem while production, transportation, distribution and storage of hydrogen remains difficult
* Reforming hydrocarbons via a reformer to produce hydrogen is technically challenging and not actually environmentally friendly
* The refuelling and the starting time of fuel cell vehicles are longer, while the driving range is shorter than in a conventional vehicle
* Fuel cells are normally somewhat larger than comparable batteries or engines, however, the size of the units continues to decrease with research and testing
* Fuel cells are currently expensive to produce, since most units are hand-made and some use expensive materials
* The technology is not yet fully developed, therefore few products are readily available
Tip! Finding solutions to the transportation element in our daily lives is very important. There's much confidence that with the attention level rather high that a better solution(s) with soon be found regarding alternative fuel.
Although hydrogen fuel cells appear to be the most promising source of alternative fuel, other sources are being researched and tested. Alternative transportation fuels provide economic advantages while also offering significant environmental benefits. They offer air quality advantages through reduced emissions and some fuels produce less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. There's significant research being conducted worldwide. Canada, for example, is recognized as a world leader in the development and use of alternative transportation fuels with more than 170,000 alternative fuel vehicles in use across Canada. Some of the most promising alternative fuel sources being suggested for future use in motor vehicles are:
Tip! At this point, it's anyone's guess what the future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.
* Ethanol * Propane * Natural gas * Biodiesel * Electricity * Hydrogen
At this point, it's anyone's guess what the future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.
© 2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com and Andrea Susan Glass. Any reproduction of this article in any manner is prohibited without the consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com. We give permission to use this article on your website or e-zine if you reproduce it exactly as it appears here including this notice. Visit http://www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, "7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car."
* William Grove invented the fuel cell in 1839.
* General Electric invented proton exchange membrane fuel cells in the 1950s
* Francis Bacon demonstrated a 5kW alkaline fuel cell in 1959.
* NASA's use of fuel cells during the Apollo space missions in the 1960s was the first commercial use of fuel cells.
* Alkaline fuel cells have flown over 100 missions and operated for more than 80,000 hours in spacecrafts operated by NASA.
* The US Navy has been using fuel cells in submarines since the 1980s
* Fuel cell buses are running in several cities around the world, the largest being the European Union backed CUTE project (Clean Urban Transport for Europe).
* All major automakers have prototypes of alternative fuel vehicles using fuel cells on the road-some have already been leased to customers.
* Iceland has plans to convert its fishing fleet from diesel engines to hydrogen fuel cells as part of a national project to create a fossil fuel free economy
* Several car manufacturers are hoping to produce their first semi-commercial models of fuel cell cars by 2005, yet they will most probably not be mass produced until 2010.
* Numerous fuel cell products will be coming to market-portable direct methanol fuel cells will power mobile phones, laptops and cameras in the near future
* A fuel cell is around 60% efficient at converting fuel to power, double the efficiency of an internal combustion gas engine-which makes it perfect for alternative fuel vehicles.
Fuel cells have several advantages over conventional power sources like internal combustion gas engines or batteries. Additionally, there are disadvantages facing manufacturers hoping to commercialize fuel cells. See how they stack up as the next best fuel for alternative fuel vehicles.
Advantages
* Fuel cells reduce pollution that is caused by the burning of fossil fuels-their only by-product is water
* If the hydrogen used in the fuel cell comes from the electrolysis of water, then using fuel cells will eliminate greenhouse gases
* Because fuel cells don't need conventional fuels like oil or gas, they eliminate economic dependence on politically unstable countries
* Since hydrogen can be manufactured anywhere there is water and electricity, production of potential fuel can be allocated in various areas
* Fuel cells operate at a higher efficiency than diesel or gas engines which makes them an ideal source of efficient power for alternative fuel vehicles
* Most fuel cells operate silently, while internal combustion engines do not
* Fuel cells can operate for longer times than batteries, therefore to double the operating time, only the fuel needs to be doubled and not the capacity of the unit itself
Tip! Not being one of the major alternative fuel sources for cars, solar power is actually a very useful one and what's more it will always be available for us to use. The main application of solar power is in our houses where with a few solar panels we can provide all the heating and the hot water we will need.
* The maintenance of fuel cells is relatively straightforward since there are few moving parts in the system
Disadvantages
* Energizing fuel cells continues to be a major problem while production, transportation, distribution and storage of hydrogen remains difficult
* Reforming hydrocarbons via a reformer to produce hydrogen is technically challenging and not actually environmentally friendly
* The refuelling and the starting time of fuel cell vehicles are longer, while the driving range is shorter than in a conventional vehicle
* Fuel cells are normally somewhat larger than comparable batteries or engines, however, the size of the units continues to decrease with research and testing
* Fuel cells are currently expensive to produce, since most units are hand-made and some use expensive materials
* The technology is not yet fully developed, therefore few products are readily available
Tip! Finding solutions to the transportation element in our daily lives is very important. There's much confidence that with the attention level rather high that a better solution(s) with soon be found regarding alternative fuel.
Although hydrogen fuel cells appear to be the most promising source of alternative fuel, other sources are being researched and tested. Alternative transportation fuels provide economic advantages while also offering significant environmental benefits. They offer air quality advantages through reduced emissions and some fuels produce less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. There's significant research being conducted worldwide. Canada, for example, is recognized as a world leader in the development and use of alternative transportation fuels with more than 170,000 alternative fuel vehicles in use across Canada. Some of the most promising alternative fuel sources being suggested for future use in motor vehicles are:
Tip! At this point, it's anyone's guess what the future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.
* Ethanol * Propane * Natural gas * Biodiesel * Electricity * Hydrogen
At this point, it's anyone's guess what the future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.
© 2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com and Andrea Susan Glass. Any reproduction of this article in any manner is prohibited without the consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com. We give permission to use this article on your website or e-zine if you reproduce it exactly as it appears here including this notice. Visit http://www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, "7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car."
Biodeisel Fuel As An Alternative Fuel Source
Biodiesel fuel as an alternative fuel source, is produced mainly from vegetable oils. Making biodiesel fuel from home using biodiesel kit is gaining popularity for motorists because it is readily available even online. To give a very brief idea how it is produced, the recycled vegetable oil goes through a biodiesel processor and within hours, you will have home made biodiesel fuel for your diesel engine vehicle. Biodiesel fuel is so flexible because it can be produced from pure vegetable oils, waste vegetable oils or byproducts from animal fats like lard and tallow. But the commercial preference is towards waste vegetable oil. Waste oil vegetable is the preferred choice of the majority because it is most economical and best source to recycle, to produce biodiesel fuel.
Biodiesel fuel is produced chemically by altering the vegetable oil through a "thinning" process. What this process does is it "thins" down or dilutes the oil to a level where it can be used in any diesel engine that is unmodified. And since it has passed all of the safety requirements set by the EPA, Biodiesel fuel can be used right away in almost every car without any special modifications. Compared to other alternative fuels which require special modifications to the car's engine, biodiesel does not need any specialized gadget. It can be used right away
Tip! At this point, it's anyone's guess what the future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.
In actual fact, biodiesel fuel is nothing new. It is old news. The recent revival is largely due to the surge in crude oil prices and motorists have been feeling the pinch in their pockets as they have to pay more for regular gasoline. The days of pre $30 or even pre $40 crude oil price may never materialize again because the demand for oil on a global scale is increasing each day, unlike 10 years ago. Currently, crude oil is trending at $60 level. Experts are predicting that oil well may dry up in the near future if no new oil wells are discovered. If this is the scenario, there will be an oil crisis. Whether this is propaganda or fact, gasoline at current price is still too expensive
The next logical solution is alternative energy fuel like ethanol E85 or biodiesel fuel. Besides being cheaper to regular gasoline, biodiesel fuel is a clean burning fuel and research has shown that it does reduce the carbon dioxide emissions significantly compared to gasoline vehicles. Biodiesel fuel is biodegradable non-toxic renewable, essentially free of sulfur and it environmentally friendly.
Tip! Ethanol is blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 and blends with even higher concentrations of ethanol qualify as alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act.
Making Biodiesel fuel can be done at home. It is cheaper than regular gasoline and does not need any modification to your car. It is biodegradable non-toxic and environmentally friendly
Biodiesel fuel is produced chemically by altering the vegetable oil through a "thinning" process. What this process does is it "thins" down or dilutes the oil to a level where it can be used in any diesel engine that is unmodified. And since it has passed all of the safety requirements set by the EPA, Biodiesel fuel can be used right away in almost every car without any special modifications. Compared to other alternative fuels which require special modifications to the car's engine, biodiesel does not need any specialized gadget. It can be used right away
Tip! At this point, it's anyone's guess what the future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.
In actual fact, biodiesel fuel is nothing new. It is old news. The recent revival is largely due to the surge in crude oil prices and motorists have been feeling the pinch in their pockets as they have to pay more for regular gasoline. The days of pre $30 or even pre $40 crude oil price may never materialize again because the demand for oil on a global scale is increasing each day, unlike 10 years ago. Currently, crude oil is trending at $60 level. Experts are predicting that oil well may dry up in the near future if no new oil wells are discovered. If this is the scenario, there will be an oil crisis. Whether this is propaganda or fact, gasoline at current price is still too expensive
The next logical solution is alternative energy fuel like ethanol E85 or biodiesel fuel. Besides being cheaper to regular gasoline, biodiesel fuel is a clean burning fuel and research has shown that it does reduce the carbon dioxide emissions significantly compared to gasoline vehicles. Biodiesel fuel is biodegradable non-toxic renewable, essentially free of sulfur and it environmentally friendly.
Tip! Ethanol is blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 and blends with even higher concentrations of ethanol qualify as alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act.
Making Biodiesel fuel can be done at home. It is cheaper than regular gasoline and does not need any modification to your car. It is biodegradable non-toxic and environmentally friendly
Awareness of Alternative Fuel Has Arrived
No doubt by now we've all become aware of the alternative fuel issues. Overy the years we've had casual conversation of the issures but without any real emphasis. Fortunately we have the raw resources to solve the issues we're dealing with. We now have mobilized a serious effort to find the solutions to alternatrive fuel.
The essentual depletion of current gasoline, oil and energy resources continues to dwindle at a fairly rapid rate. As a country with the many needs for fuel it's not hard to grasp the channeleging issue. Not only are the current resources impacted but the ongoing hand in hand pollution that comes with the high use of pollution creating materials has merely compounded the problem.
Our environment is the only one we've got and surely we all understand that care needs to be applied to the current pollution issues. Our population continues to grow, the use of modern conveniences growth so consequential we need to develope alternative energy resource to keep up with the demand yet at the same time reduce the hazardes that come with our massive uses.
With the rapid growth of industrailization since the early twenty's which has been phenominal we lost a certain calmness and stability. The so called good ole days were good as compared to the the ever on going demise of our environment which was to a larger measure controlled. Today, environmental issues are blazzing a very difficult and negative trail.
The horse and buggies are gone, airplanes, limo's and railroads are the norm so we need to better learn how the use our newer toys if we are to be comfortable with our liftstyle in the oncoming days ahead.
Finding solutions to the transportation element in our daily lives is very important. There's much confidence that with the attention level rather high that a better solution(s) with soon be found regarding alternative fuel.
In depth Alternative Fuel needs are discussed here
The essentual depletion of current gasoline, oil and energy resources continues to dwindle at a fairly rapid rate. As a country with the many needs for fuel it's not hard to grasp the channeleging issue. Not only are the current resources impacted but the ongoing hand in hand pollution that comes with the high use of pollution creating materials has merely compounded the problem.
Our environment is the only one we've got and surely we all understand that care needs to be applied to the current pollution issues. Our population continues to grow, the use of modern conveniences growth so consequential we need to develope alternative energy resource to keep up with the demand yet at the same time reduce the hazardes that come with our massive uses.
With the rapid growth of industrailization since the early twenty's which has been phenominal we lost a certain calmness and stability. The so called good ole days were good as compared to the the ever on going demise of our environment which was to a larger measure controlled. Today, environmental issues are blazzing a very difficult and negative trail.
The horse and buggies are gone, airplanes, limo's and railroads are the norm so we need to better learn how the use our newer toys if we are to be comfortable with our liftstyle in the oncoming days ahead.
Finding solutions to the transportation element in our daily lives is very important. There's much confidence that with the attention level rather high that a better solution(s) with soon be found regarding alternative fuel.
In depth Alternative Fuel needs are discussed here
The Increasing Value of Alternative Fuel Sources
Although alternative fuel sources are not sufficient and still not ready to take over, they are still better than nothing. As people already start worrying about their future, which seems to be darker and colder with each passing day, alternative fuel sources will become more and more popular. Their importance is not overrated at all as humanity has already exhausted half of the world's oil reserves and it will not only become more and more expensive to extract smaller and smaller amounts of oil, but it will definitely come to its end one day. Unfortunately our economy now seems to be so dependent on gasoline that even if we switch to alternative fuel sources, and the sooner we do that the better for everyone, it might still not be enough to save our lives.
Not being one of the major alternative fuel sources for cars, solar power is actually a very useful one and what's more it will always be available for us to use. The main application of solar power is in our houses where with a few solar panels we can provide all the heating and the hot water we will need. Apart from that there are other ways also of getting an entire house powered and running only using alternative fuel sources, although it is still an expensive option.
A large step towards switching to alternative fuel sources were the Hybrid cars. Technically they don't actually use alternative fuel sources, but they have found a way to optimize gas consumption to the unbelievable 50 miles per gallon or even more with the use of conventional gasoline. And thinking realistically this is way better than burning alternative, but still inefficient, fuels such as vegetable oils, Biodiesel, ethanol etc. of course those vehicles powered by alternative fuels free us from the dependence on oil, but they still pollute the environment with the smoke coming out of the exhausts. That is the main reason it doesn't make any sense to me. Why should we switch from one thing to another if the second one is not going to be any better than the first?
Hydrogen and electricity seem to be the two most promising alternatives for fueling our future. They are very closely related as hydrogen is a highly efficient power storage option, and stored in the form of hydrogen in the car, the power is, when needed, being converted in electricity. In this way constructors avoid the need of huge and heavy batteries to store the energy. Losing the batteries on its turn, means that the car can be lighter and thus much more efficient and easier to run and maintain. These two alternative fuel sources might become the long awaited solution for the world's fuel problems; however they need to be perfected first.
Tip! In his State of the Union speech, President Bush made much of the alternative fuel sources available these days. While he should be commended for promoting their use, he perhaps was a bit vague in regard to how far along we are in using biofuels for cars.
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning finance. Learn more at Alternative Fuel Sources
Not being one of the major alternative fuel sources for cars, solar power is actually a very useful one and what's more it will always be available for us to use. The main application of solar power is in our houses where with a few solar panels we can provide all the heating and the hot water we will need. Apart from that there are other ways also of getting an entire house powered and running only using alternative fuel sources, although it is still an expensive option.
A large step towards switching to alternative fuel sources were the Hybrid cars. Technically they don't actually use alternative fuel sources, but they have found a way to optimize gas consumption to the unbelievable 50 miles per gallon or even more with the use of conventional gasoline. And thinking realistically this is way better than burning alternative, but still inefficient, fuels such as vegetable oils, Biodiesel, ethanol etc. of course those vehicles powered by alternative fuels free us from the dependence on oil, but they still pollute the environment with the smoke coming out of the exhausts. That is the main reason it doesn't make any sense to me. Why should we switch from one thing to another if the second one is not going to be any better than the first?
Hydrogen and electricity seem to be the two most promising alternatives for fueling our future. They are very closely related as hydrogen is a highly efficient power storage option, and stored in the form of hydrogen in the car, the power is, when needed, being converted in electricity. In this way constructors avoid the need of huge and heavy batteries to store the energy. Losing the batteries on its turn, means that the car can be lighter and thus much more efficient and easier to run and maintain. These two alternative fuel sources might become the long awaited solution for the world's fuel problems; however they need to be perfected first.
Tip! In his State of the Union speech, President Bush made much of the alternative fuel sources available these days. While he should be commended for promoting their use, he perhaps was a bit vague in regard to how far along we are in using biofuels for cars.
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning finance. Learn more at Alternative Fuel Sources
Why Would Someone Buy An Alternative-Fuel Vehicle?
It seems that whether it's a movie star talking about their new electric-gas hybrid car or a politician proclaiming the virtues of biodiesel, alternative-fuel powered vehicles are all the rage right now. There are many claims about these vehicles ranging from astounding miles per gallon (mpg) to the peace of mind it gives the driver, but why should someone buy an alternative-fuel powered vehicle?
Many alt-fuel vehicle owners speak of the financial benefits of owning such a vehicle. It is true that you can save money on your monthly fuel bill, depending on what choice of alt-fuel vehicle you drive. Because of the relatively new technology involved, many alt-fuels are just as expensive as or more expensive than traditional petroleum based fuels. It seems that the most money saving option is an electric-hybrid engine, but you usually end up paying more upfront for these as the cost for an electric-hybrid car is greater from the dealership than a standard car.
Another reason some drivers choose so-called "green" cars is because of their positive effect on the environment. The thinking is that if the emissions released by the car are cleaner, then it is more environmentally friendly to drive it than a standard engine. Without a doubt this is true for almost all forms of alternative fuel. Still, attention has to be paid to the fuel manufacturing and consumption process as a whole. There is scientific evidence that the current method of extracting hydrogen from natural gas can create far worse emissions than extraction from petroleum.
Developing new technology, such as alternative-fuel use, costs a great deal of money. Some alt-fuel vehicle drivers purchase their vehicles so that they feel they have helped an industry they believe in. By infusing money into the industry via the purchase of the vehicle itself, additional options, and the fuel supply needed they are contributing to the further development of that technology.
Drivers have also been known to turn to alternative-fuel vehicles as a way of helping or encouraging their country to eliminate its need of foreign oil. Many people feel that western countries have become dangerously dependent on oil producing nations. At a time when wars have been fought over, among other things, the protection of oil interests, some citizens have been looking for a way to make their country more able to support itself. When a country is not completely dependent on it's trading partner, it has the advantage when it comes to international trading.
There will always be a certain segment of society that likes to do the "in" thing. They were the first ones to wear bell-bottom pants in the 1970's, Members Only jackets in the 1980's, and baggy pants in the 1990's. There will also always be people who want the newest "toy" or technology because it's a status symbol, especially when it's something being used by celebrities. Alternative-fuel vehicles definitely are no exception to this market. Whether these buyers continue to own alt-fuel cars after the fad have passed on or it's no longer a status symbol is anyone's guess.
Tip! Not being one of the major alternative fuel sources for cars, solar power is actually a very useful one and what's more it will always be available for us to use. The main application of solar power is in our houses where with a few solar panels we can provide all the heating and the hot water we will need.
Similar to the people trying to reduce their country's dependency on foreign oil are a group of people, whose main reason for owning alternative-fuel vehicles is to support the agricultural industry in their own country. This would mainly include the alternative fuels known to as Biodiesel and Ethanol. Both Biodiesel and Ethanol are somewhat made from vegetable oil. Usually for a car to run on Biodiesel or Ethanol there has to be some minor modifications done to the engine. If the Biodiesel is made from used vegetable oil, then it has to be refined first to clear it of impurities.
Many people buy many different types of alternative-fuel vehicles for many different reasons. These people don't as a group even agree on the reasons they do this, but they are united by their actions and they are encouraging the entire alternative-fuel industry to develop faster than if it was just developing on it's own.
Tip! Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel that is produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feed stocks for this fuel include corn, barley, and wheat.
Mark Allen is a supporter of the search for viable alternative fuels. Interested in more information about Biodiesel and other alternative fuels, check out http://biodieselplans.info or http://biodieselplans.blogspot.com
Many alt-fuel vehicle owners speak of the financial benefits of owning such a vehicle. It is true that you can save money on your monthly fuel bill, depending on what choice of alt-fuel vehicle you drive. Because of the relatively new technology involved, many alt-fuels are just as expensive as or more expensive than traditional petroleum based fuels. It seems that the most money saving option is an electric-hybrid engine, but you usually end up paying more upfront for these as the cost for an electric-hybrid car is greater from the dealership than a standard car.
Another reason some drivers choose so-called "green" cars is because of their positive effect on the environment. The thinking is that if the emissions released by the car are cleaner, then it is more environmentally friendly to drive it than a standard engine. Without a doubt this is true for almost all forms of alternative fuel. Still, attention has to be paid to the fuel manufacturing and consumption process as a whole. There is scientific evidence that the current method of extracting hydrogen from natural gas can create far worse emissions than extraction from petroleum.
Developing new technology, such as alternative-fuel use, costs a great deal of money. Some alt-fuel vehicle drivers purchase their vehicles so that they feel they have helped an industry they believe in. By infusing money into the industry via the purchase of the vehicle itself, additional options, and the fuel supply needed they are contributing to the further development of that technology.
Drivers have also been known to turn to alternative-fuel vehicles as a way of helping or encouraging their country to eliminate its need of foreign oil. Many people feel that western countries have become dangerously dependent on oil producing nations. At a time when wars have been fought over, among other things, the protection of oil interests, some citizens have been looking for a way to make their country more able to support itself. When a country is not completely dependent on it's trading partner, it has the advantage when it comes to international trading.
There will always be a certain segment of society that likes to do the "in" thing. They were the first ones to wear bell-bottom pants in the 1970's, Members Only jackets in the 1980's, and baggy pants in the 1990's. There will also always be people who want the newest "toy" or technology because it's a status symbol, especially when it's something being used by celebrities. Alternative-fuel vehicles definitely are no exception to this market. Whether these buyers continue to own alt-fuel cars after the fad have passed on or it's no longer a status symbol is anyone's guess.
Tip! Not being one of the major alternative fuel sources for cars, solar power is actually a very useful one and what's more it will always be available for us to use. The main application of solar power is in our houses where with a few solar panels we can provide all the heating and the hot water we will need.
Similar to the people trying to reduce their country's dependency on foreign oil are a group of people, whose main reason for owning alternative-fuel vehicles is to support the agricultural industry in their own country. This would mainly include the alternative fuels known to as Biodiesel and Ethanol. Both Biodiesel and Ethanol are somewhat made from vegetable oil. Usually for a car to run on Biodiesel or Ethanol there has to be some minor modifications done to the engine. If the Biodiesel is made from used vegetable oil, then it has to be refined first to clear it of impurities.
Many people buy many different types of alternative-fuel vehicles for many different reasons. These people don't as a group even agree on the reasons they do this, but they are united by their actions and they are encouraging the entire alternative-fuel industry to develop faster than if it was just developing on it's own.
Tip! Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel that is produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feed stocks for this fuel include corn, barley, and wheat.
Mark Allen is a supporter of the search for viable alternative fuels. Interested in more information about Biodiesel and other alternative fuels, check out http://biodieselplans.info or http://biodieselplans.blogspot.com
Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel
Biodiesel fuel is a fuel made from the oil of certain oilseed crops such as soybean, canola, palm kernel, coconut, sunflower, safflower, corn and a hundreds of other oil producing crops. The oil is extracted by the use of a press. The oil is then mixed in specific proportions with other agents which causes a chemical reaction. The results of this reaction are two products, biodiesel and soap.
After a final filtration, the biodiesel is ready for use. After curing, the glycerin soap which is produced as a by product can be used as is, or can have scented oils added before use.
Biodiesel fuel is not a new development; however it has gotten quite a lot of publicity lately. This is largely due to the rising cost of crude oil which puts a strain on the consumer's wallet at the gas pump. Biodiesel fuel is one alternative to relying on fossil fuels to operate our vehicles.
In 1895 Dr. Rudolph Diesel introduced the first diesel engine intended to run on vegetable oil. In 1900 he presented his engine at the World Exhibition in Paris. This diesel engine used peanut oil as fuel.
In 1912 Dr. Diesel predicted that in the future the use of vegetable oils as a fuel may be as important as the use of petroleum and coal was in his day. With the volatile nature of oil producing countries, and the ever surging cost of crude oil, interest in vegetable oils as fuel has been rekindled, so it seems Dr Diesel may have had a glimpse into the world of today.
Biodiesel fuel has several advantages over fossil fuel. The most celebrated advantage is that biodiesel fuel is less costly to make than gasoline. As an added bonus, biodiesel is environmentally friendly fuel. The use of biodiesel in an unmodified diesel engine will substantially reduce the emissions of harmful unburned hydrocarbons, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide.
Tip! There's a lot of hope that alternative fuel technologies developed by some of the smaller companies will become commercially viable and help support the sector. As a result, stocks for these companies are expected to soar.
Biodiesel fuel works in almost any diesel engine. Just some of the equipment where these engines can be found is cars, trucks, tractors, planes, trains, boats, buses and almost all agricultural equipment. As you can see this adds up to a lot of potential use for biodiesel, and just as many chances to reduce the harmful emissions created from the use of fossil fuels.
So what makes biodiesel fuel such a promising fossil fuel alternative? Here are a few of the surprising facts pertaining to biodiesel.
Biodiesel fuel can be made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils and animal fats.
Biodiesel fuel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80%.
Biodiesel reduces the formation of acid rain because it produces no sulfur dioxide, which is the key element in creating acid rain.
Tip! Learn more about alternative fuels and flexible fuel vehicles, including what vehicles are flexible fuel vehicles, and where to find E85, at the United States Government's Alternative Fuel Data Center at http://www.eere.
Biodiesel fuel smells better at the tank, so filling up is a more pleasant task than with regular diesel. Biodiesel also smells better on the road, with the exhaust sometimes being described as smelling like French fries or doughnuts.
Biodiesel burns much cleaner, so the black smelly smoke one usually sees puffing from vehicles which use diesel engines can be eliminated.
Tip! This alternative fuel source has many benefits compared to petroleum. One benefit is the price.
An added advantage over regular fuel is that biodiesel fuel takes considerably less time to degrade in the event of a spill, usually about twenty eight days, which is about four times faster than gasoline or regular diesel fuel.
The extra lubrication provided by biodiesel fuel helps improve the longevity of your engine, as well as boosting engine performance, also helping eliminate engine knocks and noise.
Biodiesel fuel can be stored in any type of tank already approved for fuel storage, giving more savings to both businesses and consumers.
Biodiesel has a much higher flash point at 300 degrees to be exact, than regular diesel, at 150 degrees.
Biodiesel can be mixed with regular diesel fuel to make blends, such as B5 or B20.
Most diesel engines can use biodiesel without having to be modified in any way.
Tip! Finding solutions to the transportation element in our daily lives is very important. There's much confidence that with the attention level rather high that a better solution(s) with soon be found regarding alternative fuel.
With all the advantages biodiesel fuel has over conventional diesel, it makes a smart alternative which not only makes a difference in our wallets, but also to the Earth itself.
You can make your own BioDiesel at home. Save cost and save the environment! Check out more information for FREE at Biodiesel Fuel
After a final filtration, the biodiesel is ready for use. After curing, the glycerin soap which is produced as a by product can be used as is, or can have scented oils added before use.
Biodiesel fuel is not a new development; however it has gotten quite a lot of publicity lately. This is largely due to the rising cost of crude oil which puts a strain on the consumer's wallet at the gas pump. Biodiesel fuel is one alternative to relying on fossil fuels to operate our vehicles.
In 1895 Dr. Rudolph Diesel introduced the first diesel engine intended to run on vegetable oil. In 1900 he presented his engine at the World Exhibition in Paris. This diesel engine used peanut oil as fuel.
In 1912 Dr. Diesel predicted that in the future the use of vegetable oils as a fuel may be as important as the use of petroleum and coal was in his day. With the volatile nature of oil producing countries, and the ever surging cost of crude oil, interest in vegetable oils as fuel has been rekindled, so it seems Dr Diesel may have had a glimpse into the world of today.
Biodiesel fuel has several advantages over fossil fuel. The most celebrated advantage is that biodiesel fuel is less costly to make than gasoline. As an added bonus, biodiesel is environmentally friendly fuel. The use of biodiesel in an unmodified diesel engine will substantially reduce the emissions of harmful unburned hydrocarbons, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide.
Tip! There's a lot of hope that alternative fuel technologies developed by some of the smaller companies will become commercially viable and help support the sector. As a result, stocks for these companies are expected to soar.
Biodiesel fuel works in almost any diesel engine. Just some of the equipment where these engines can be found is cars, trucks, tractors, planes, trains, boats, buses and almost all agricultural equipment. As you can see this adds up to a lot of potential use for biodiesel, and just as many chances to reduce the harmful emissions created from the use of fossil fuels.
So what makes biodiesel fuel such a promising fossil fuel alternative? Here are a few of the surprising facts pertaining to biodiesel.
Biodiesel fuel can be made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils and animal fats.
Biodiesel fuel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80%.
Biodiesel reduces the formation of acid rain because it produces no sulfur dioxide, which is the key element in creating acid rain.
Tip! Learn more about alternative fuels and flexible fuel vehicles, including what vehicles are flexible fuel vehicles, and where to find E85, at the United States Government's Alternative Fuel Data Center at http://www.eere.
Biodiesel fuel smells better at the tank, so filling up is a more pleasant task than with regular diesel. Biodiesel also smells better on the road, with the exhaust sometimes being described as smelling like French fries or doughnuts.
Biodiesel burns much cleaner, so the black smelly smoke one usually sees puffing from vehicles which use diesel engines can be eliminated.
Tip! This alternative fuel source has many benefits compared to petroleum. One benefit is the price.
An added advantage over regular fuel is that biodiesel fuel takes considerably less time to degrade in the event of a spill, usually about twenty eight days, which is about four times faster than gasoline or regular diesel fuel.
The extra lubrication provided by biodiesel fuel helps improve the longevity of your engine, as well as boosting engine performance, also helping eliminate engine knocks and noise.
Biodiesel fuel can be stored in any type of tank already approved for fuel storage, giving more savings to both businesses and consumers.
Biodiesel has a much higher flash point at 300 degrees to be exact, than regular diesel, at 150 degrees.
Biodiesel can be mixed with regular diesel fuel to make blends, such as B5 or B20.
Most diesel engines can use biodiesel without having to be modified in any way.
Tip! Finding solutions to the transportation element in our daily lives is very important. There's much confidence that with the attention level rather high that a better solution(s) with soon be found regarding alternative fuel.
With all the advantages biodiesel fuel has over conventional diesel, it makes a smart alternative which not only makes a difference in our wallets, but also to the Earth itself.
You can make your own BioDiesel at home. Save cost and save the environment! Check out more information for FREE at Biodiesel Fuel
Alternative Fuel Vehicles and How Not to Advertise Them
If I asked you to name the least trustworthy figures in the American landscape these days I bet politicians would rank high on the list. I would also wager a tidy sum that corporate execs would not be far behind. It seems like most things, a few bad ones can really muck up a good thing. Maybe todays high priced CEO's deserve our scorn and maybe they don't. It doesn't matter much. We all seem to think they're a bit shadier now than we used to. The execs know it too. Ask Martha. That's partly why I was completely baffled by the new "Eco-ad" campaign the Ford folks have begun. They've managed to take a corporate exec and make him look like a politician. Brilliant!
Photo of ad With the difficulty domestic manufacturers are having with ever stricter café standards and EPA regulations, coupled with rapidly increasing foreign competition, this is the most compelling stuff Ford has to buy their eco-products; a corporate exec, in the politicians pose, lecturing his voters, I mean customers? If so, Sayonara!
Buying a car, any car, is an emotional experience. Especially these hybrid wind up toys this ad is supposed to be selling. The verdict is coming in rapidly that these vehicles simply don't deliver economically or ecologically as first promised. Yet people continue to stand in line to pay an 8 grand premium for 20% better fuel economy. You would need to drive 60,000 miles to begin to break even. Never mind resale value. In 5 or 6 years when these cars are no longer a novelty, who will be willing to spend 15k for an 80,000 mile used economy car when new ones are $20k? I'm not trying to argue for or against these cars. Others have already done that. My focus is on the marketing. People buy a Prius or Insight because it makes them feel better about themselves. They think they're doing their part to make the world better. If it were purely a cerebral decision most of us would be driving used Accords or Vespas. People want to feel good about their cars and the reasons they bought them. The only thing this ad makes you feel is sleepy.
Tip! As an alternative fuel source, biodiesel is top notch. It is a renewable source, since it is made from vegetable oil all you do is grow another crop.
I'm sure Mr. Ford is a very nice man. But either ego or bad advice created this mess, not sound marketing. CEO's can be terrific spokespeople, but you never saw Dave Thomas without a hamburger, The Colonel always stood behind a bucket of original recipe, and Iacoca always had a Caravan or K-car behind him. Without the products, they're just goofy looking vacuum cleaner salesmen. No offense Mr. Orek. What's the point here? Proving Ford is concerned about the environment and committed to being Green? Who cares! Corporations should focus on achieving better profits through superior products and do it ethically. Ford should work on getting the cost down on these Eco-cars, make ‘em fun to drive, and make ‘em go like stink. Put the actual cars back in the ads instead of a stuffed shirt who inherited an empire and they'll sell the cars.
In the mean time, the domestics should invest their alternative fuel and hybrid energies in the fleet and commercial market where it makes sense. If private and government fleet operators were the audience, this campaign would make complete sense. If Ford offered superior alternative fuel commercial trucks and fleet vehicles that are subject to high mileage or were prone to stop and go use, and got the government to allow tax savings for purchasing them, they wouldn't be able to keep up with demand. A fleet manager or operator would be able to recoup his investment in a year or two instead of a decade. How many barrels of oil would be saved yearly if Police cars across the country idled on propane or CNG instead of gasoline? Why aren't all Fedex and UPS trucks Hybrids? That would allow the technology to be produced in a volume large enough to bring the cost down for the consumer market. For me, I'll buy a hybrid vehicle the day after the government delivers my tax credit in an electric Jeep.
Tip! Some experts have said that alternative fuels are �unfeasible�. Perhaps a true statement when looking at the bottom line profit, but as petroleum prices rise, this gap closes, and may reach a point where feasibility is achieved.
C Judge is a veteran of the commercial truck business and currently owns Work Truck Warehouse
Photo of ad With the difficulty domestic manufacturers are having with ever stricter café standards and EPA regulations, coupled with rapidly increasing foreign competition, this is the most compelling stuff Ford has to buy their eco-products; a corporate exec, in the politicians pose, lecturing his voters, I mean customers? If so, Sayonara!
Buying a car, any car, is an emotional experience. Especially these hybrid wind up toys this ad is supposed to be selling. The verdict is coming in rapidly that these vehicles simply don't deliver economically or ecologically as first promised. Yet people continue to stand in line to pay an 8 grand premium for 20% better fuel economy. You would need to drive 60,000 miles to begin to break even. Never mind resale value. In 5 or 6 years when these cars are no longer a novelty, who will be willing to spend 15k for an 80,000 mile used economy car when new ones are $20k? I'm not trying to argue for or against these cars. Others have already done that. My focus is on the marketing. People buy a Prius or Insight because it makes them feel better about themselves. They think they're doing their part to make the world better. If it were purely a cerebral decision most of us would be driving used Accords or Vespas. People want to feel good about their cars and the reasons they bought them. The only thing this ad makes you feel is sleepy.
Tip! As an alternative fuel source, biodiesel is top notch. It is a renewable source, since it is made from vegetable oil all you do is grow another crop.
I'm sure Mr. Ford is a very nice man. But either ego or bad advice created this mess, not sound marketing. CEO's can be terrific spokespeople, but you never saw Dave Thomas without a hamburger, The Colonel always stood behind a bucket of original recipe, and Iacoca always had a Caravan or K-car behind him. Without the products, they're just goofy looking vacuum cleaner salesmen. No offense Mr. Orek. What's the point here? Proving Ford is concerned about the environment and committed to being Green? Who cares! Corporations should focus on achieving better profits through superior products and do it ethically. Ford should work on getting the cost down on these Eco-cars, make ‘em fun to drive, and make ‘em go like stink. Put the actual cars back in the ads instead of a stuffed shirt who inherited an empire and they'll sell the cars.
In the mean time, the domestics should invest their alternative fuel and hybrid energies in the fleet and commercial market where it makes sense. If private and government fleet operators were the audience, this campaign would make complete sense. If Ford offered superior alternative fuel commercial trucks and fleet vehicles that are subject to high mileage or were prone to stop and go use, and got the government to allow tax savings for purchasing them, they wouldn't be able to keep up with demand. A fleet manager or operator would be able to recoup his investment in a year or two instead of a decade. How many barrels of oil would be saved yearly if Police cars across the country idled on propane or CNG instead of gasoline? Why aren't all Fedex and UPS trucks Hybrids? That would allow the technology to be produced in a volume large enough to bring the cost down for the consumer market. For me, I'll buy a hybrid vehicle the day after the government delivers my tax credit in an electric Jeep.
Tip! Some experts have said that alternative fuels are �unfeasible�. Perhaps a true statement when looking at the bottom line profit, but as petroleum prices rise, this gap closes, and may reach a point where feasibility is achieved.
C Judge is a veteran of the commercial truck business and currently owns Work Truck Warehouse
American Drivers and the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Choice
The questions about alternative fuel vehicles increase every time gasoline prices rise. There are many options for vehicle manufacturers. Getting these vehicles from the research and development phase to the mainstream public has been a long and tedious process. The American vehicle manufacturers seem to have lagged behind the Japanese in this regard or have they?
When most people hear the term "alternative fuel vehicle" the vast majority will think of hybrid vehicles, the gas and electric combination. In the 2006 model year vehicle line-up for cars the only hybrid choices are Japanese. For light trucks however, the only choices are American. The SUV line up has both Japanese and American choices. The big question remains to be answered; will the demand for alternative fuel vehicles be the saving grace for a faltering American auto industry? Can General Motors and Ford adapt quickly enough to the consumer demand for lower operating costs for the average American driver to use the current spike in gasoline prices to their advantage? Perhaps the opposite is true and the inability to change will push one or both of the American auto giants over the top and make them a takeover target for perhaps Toyota? If you don't think this scenario is possible, have you ever heard of a company called DaimlerChrysler?
Hybrid technology seems to be the most recognizable with the general public but it is not the only alternative fuel choice available. Some other alternative fuel sources have been used for years, mostly in fleet or industrial vehicles. The most notable would be Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) more commonly known as propane. Another similar fuel source is Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Fleets of trucks, buses and government agency cars have used these fuel sources for many years. Having a network of fueling stations is a stumbling point to bringing these vehicles to mainstream America. One reason why these fuel sources work well for fleet usage is because of the central garage and fueling station arrangement. When the vehicle has completed its workday it is brought back to the central garage as well as fueled for the next day's service. Although both LPG and CNG are fossil fuels they produce less emissions than gasoline. Flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) are vehicles that have a single fuel source and are designed to run on either regular unleaded gasoline or a mixture of gasoline and an alcohol fuel source such as ethanol or methanol. With many farmer owned cooperatives building ethanol production facilities as a way to market their corn and other grain crops this type of alternative fuel vehicle choice has gained the most momentum in mainstream America. Another type of alternative fuel source vehicle is known as a Bi-fuel Vehicle. This design uses two completely separate fuel system. Typically one fuel source is a readily available fuel such as regular unleaded gasoline or diesel and the other fuel source is either LPG or CNG.
Tip! Ethanol is blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 and blends with even higher concentrations of ethanol qualify as alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act.
By using two fuel sources the vehicle has greater flexibility to travel outside the limited refueling network for LPG or CNG. The vehicle is designed to easily switch between the two fuel sources based on fuel availability. Electric vehicles show promise but there are issues with the weight from battery storage sources and a network of recharging facilities as well as their limited travel range. Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV) are several years away as they are not expected to reach the mass market prior to 2010.Government agencies and domestic automobile manufacturers are joining forces to bring a zero emission vehicle that does not rely on fossil fuels to the American driving public. Freedom CAR is a cooperative research effort between the Department of Energy and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research whose goal is to develop cars and trucks that are cheaper to operate, pollution free, competitively priced and free from imported oil.
Tip! It doesn't take a degree in chemistry to make your own biodiesel. Whether you have a blender, a soda bottle, or a huge mixing tank, you have the tools and resources necessary to make this amazing alternative fuel.
With alternative fuel sources there will be growing pains. These would include setting up a network of refueling stations and training automotive repair technicians on vehicles that are completely different from what they have repaired in the past. There are many automotive technicians who, I am sure, will leave the industry as the new technology is introduced. The neighborhood repair garage will disappear as these increasingly more sophisticated vehicles begin rolling on American streets and highways. Most vehicle manufactures will keep the training on these new vehicles for their network of dealer service technicians only.
If you are considering an alternative fuel vehicle you should also consider the proximity of refueling stations and how that network will expand in the foreseeable future. Staying informed on alternative fuel vehicles currently in production as well as those that will be available in the near future will be to your advantage as a consumer.
Tip! Although hydrogen fuel cells appear to be the most promising source of alternative fuel, other sources are being researched and tested. Alternative transportation fuels provide economic advantages while also offering significant environmental benefits.
-Reference material from www.fuleconomy.gov , The Department of Energy, FreedomCAR initiative and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Copyright 2006 Dana Buttenhoff
Dana Buttenhoff has over 20 years experience in the automotive industry. The past 12 years as an automotive service consultant for a European luxury car dealership in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota.
When most people hear the term "alternative fuel vehicle" the vast majority will think of hybrid vehicles, the gas and electric combination. In the 2006 model year vehicle line-up for cars the only hybrid choices are Japanese. For light trucks however, the only choices are American. The SUV line up has both Japanese and American choices. The big question remains to be answered; will the demand for alternative fuel vehicles be the saving grace for a faltering American auto industry? Can General Motors and Ford adapt quickly enough to the consumer demand for lower operating costs for the average American driver to use the current spike in gasoline prices to their advantage? Perhaps the opposite is true and the inability to change will push one or both of the American auto giants over the top and make them a takeover target for perhaps Toyota? If you don't think this scenario is possible, have you ever heard of a company called DaimlerChrysler?
Hybrid technology seems to be the most recognizable with the general public but it is not the only alternative fuel choice available. Some other alternative fuel sources have been used for years, mostly in fleet or industrial vehicles. The most notable would be Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) more commonly known as propane. Another similar fuel source is Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Fleets of trucks, buses and government agency cars have used these fuel sources for many years. Having a network of fueling stations is a stumbling point to bringing these vehicles to mainstream America. One reason why these fuel sources work well for fleet usage is because of the central garage and fueling station arrangement. When the vehicle has completed its workday it is brought back to the central garage as well as fueled for the next day's service. Although both LPG and CNG are fossil fuels they produce less emissions than gasoline. Flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) are vehicles that have a single fuel source and are designed to run on either regular unleaded gasoline or a mixture of gasoline and an alcohol fuel source such as ethanol or methanol. With many farmer owned cooperatives building ethanol production facilities as a way to market their corn and other grain crops this type of alternative fuel vehicle choice has gained the most momentum in mainstream America. Another type of alternative fuel source vehicle is known as a Bi-fuel Vehicle. This design uses two completely separate fuel system. Typically one fuel source is a readily available fuel such as regular unleaded gasoline or diesel and the other fuel source is either LPG or CNG.
Tip! Ethanol is blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 and blends with even higher concentrations of ethanol qualify as alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act.
By using two fuel sources the vehicle has greater flexibility to travel outside the limited refueling network for LPG or CNG. The vehicle is designed to easily switch between the two fuel sources based on fuel availability. Electric vehicles show promise but there are issues with the weight from battery storage sources and a network of recharging facilities as well as their limited travel range. Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV) are several years away as they are not expected to reach the mass market prior to 2010.Government agencies and domestic automobile manufacturers are joining forces to bring a zero emission vehicle that does not rely on fossil fuels to the American driving public. Freedom CAR is a cooperative research effort between the Department of Energy and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research whose goal is to develop cars and trucks that are cheaper to operate, pollution free, competitively priced and free from imported oil.
Tip! It doesn't take a degree in chemistry to make your own biodiesel. Whether you have a blender, a soda bottle, or a huge mixing tank, you have the tools and resources necessary to make this amazing alternative fuel.
With alternative fuel sources there will be growing pains. These would include setting up a network of refueling stations and training automotive repair technicians on vehicles that are completely different from what they have repaired in the past. There are many automotive technicians who, I am sure, will leave the industry as the new technology is introduced. The neighborhood repair garage will disappear as these increasingly more sophisticated vehicles begin rolling on American streets and highways. Most vehicle manufactures will keep the training on these new vehicles for their network of dealer service technicians only.
If you are considering an alternative fuel vehicle you should also consider the proximity of refueling stations and how that network will expand in the foreseeable future. Staying informed on alternative fuel vehicles currently in production as well as those that will be available in the near future will be to your advantage as a consumer.
Tip! Although hydrogen fuel cells appear to be the most promising source of alternative fuel, other sources are being researched and tested. Alternative transportation fuels provide economic advantages while also offering significant environmental benefits.
-Reference material from www.fuleconomy.gov , The Department of Energy, FreedomCAR initiative and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Copyright 2006 Dana Buttenhoff
Dana Buttenhoff has over 20 years experience in the automotive industry. The past 12 years as an automotive service consultant for a European luxury car dealership in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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