0,000 propane-fueled vehicles on the road.
However, propane must be stored in pressurized tanks. Plus, its refueling infrastructure is limited as well. It costs about one-third less than gasoline.
To those naysayers who believe that water can’t run a car — well, it can and in fact does! A Japanese car, Genepax, is a water-powered car. By using one liter of water, this car can cruise around town about 80 kilometers per hour, for one hour. The water’s hydrogen electrons are the ones that generate electricity and thus, power the car’s electric motor.
The electric car is the ultimate “green car” because it doesn’t give off harmful emissions whatsoever. It is powered by electrical energy that is produced through an electrochemical reaction that occurs on combining hydrogen and oxygen. Battery-powered electric vehicles stock power in batteries and can be easily recharged by plugging the vehicle into a standard electrical source.
Electric-powered cars enjoyed only brief popularity until cheaper gas-fueled cars became more widespread. But the advancements in battery technology, oil price increase, and the need to reduce carbon footprints greatly factored the revival of the electric cars in the early 21st century which made them the greenest option around when it comes to economical cars.
PHEVs or Plug-in Hybrids
Plug-in hybrids are much similar to electricity operated vehicles but have larger batteries that can propel the car to longer distances on electricity alone. Also, they generate zero emissions. Their batteries can be recharged by plugging into an electric power source. The estimated cost of the larger batteries is $7,000 for the plug-in version. Only four models of PHEV are presently available in the U.S. the best-known model of these is General Motor’s range assisted Chevrolet Volt.
Wood Pellets (Biomass)
Many car manufacturers are looking for more resourceful means of reviving up vehicles. Now, they have also come up with cars that are powered by wood pellets! This is a type of fuel produced from biomass, which is an organic matter derived from dead or living organisms.
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel based on vegetable oils or animal fats, also some recycled cooked items. Car engines convert to burn biodiesel in its pure form, and biodiesel is also mixed with petroleum diesel and used in unmodified engines. This fuel is very safe, biodegradable, reduces air pollutants associated with vehicle emissions like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter.
These fuels are a blend of natural gas, ethanol, and methyl tetrahydrofuran (MeTHF), a cosolvent derived from biomass. They are used in flexible fuel vehicles because they are clear, high-octane fuels that can be used alone or mixed with gasoline by merely adding to the tank.
Four Emerging Fuels
- Dimethyl ether
- Renewable hydrocarbon biofuels
These emerging alternative fuels may enhance energy security, reduce emissions, improve vehicle performance, and encourage the U.S. economy.
In addition to these, other alternatives such as ammonia may also be used when needed in small quantities.
Read more about alternative fuels in this book “Alternative Fuels: Transportation Fuels for Today and Tomorrow” by Richard L. Bechtold.