oving motorists for several years. Undoubtedly, car makers face a lot of tough technical challenges in developing such cars (such as preventing Hydrogen cells from freezing or from catching flames inside the vehicle), but it doesn’t deter the creation of such eco-friendly cars.
In 2015, Toyota unveiled the first commercially-produced hydrogen fuel cell-powered car, the Toyota Mirai. These cars usually utilize the hydrogen in one of two methods; fuel cell conversion or combustion method. Hydrogen is converted into electricity through fuel cells in the fuel conversion process. While in combustion method, hydrogen is burned in the engine radically the same way as traditional gasoline. The only byproduct from the consumed hydrogen is water in both above techniques.
Ethanol is present in most of the gases that we use for our vehicles, though it must be present in a legally approved amount. But in 2010, Suzuki started making and selling cars that were fueled by 100% ethanol.
This alcohol-based alternative fuel is made by fermenting and refining crops such as barley, corn or wheat. To increase octane levels and improve the emission quality, it is blended well with gasoline. One problem associated with ethanol is that it has a negative impact on food prices and its availability.
Some cars and truck models carry the specification “flex fuel”, which means they can run on mixtures that contain up to 85% ethanol.
Propane, also known as ‘liquefied petroleum gas’ or ‘LPG’, is a byproduct of natural gas and crude oil that is a popular alternative fuel for vehicles. Propane is already used as a fuel for cooking and heating. There is a properly established infrastructure for propane storage, transportation, and distribution. The only adverse effect to this fuel is that it produces greenhouse gas, methane, a worse global warming causer.
Ease of maintenance and reduced emissions have stimulated the use of propane in police cars and school buses as well as heavy-duty trucks such as Kenworth and Peterbilt. Now, there are more than 270,000 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