Alternative Fuels of the Future

Although many fuels of the future are already being used today, there are many that are still in development. Among the many alternative fuels of the future, you'll find:

Biodiesel

A general term, biodiesel fuels are those renewable fuel sources that can be burned in a diesel engine. Biodiesel fuels are made from oils take from natural sources including plants, peanuts, soybeans and animal fats. Vegetable oil can be used but needs some treatment. Bio-diesel fuels can be burned in a diesel engine without modifications and the fuel burns without sulfur or carcinogengic benzene, two highly regulated emissions.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

Already used for heating and cooking, CNG is putting put into fuel tanks to provide a clean-burning fuel for cars and trucks. Gas burning engines can be modified to burn CNG rather than petrol, but CNG cars are not widely available and the pumps are not readily available either.

Electric Cars

Using batteries that must be charged up, most electric cars are small and top out well below highway standards on speed. More common are electric hybrid cars where portions of the vehicle are powered by technologies such as regenerative braking making the vehicle only partially electric.

Ethanol

A form of alcohol, ethanol has a higher octane rating than petrol. Ethanol is often blended with gasoline and used in engines with little or no modification. Already petrol is blended with 10% ethanol in many gas stations, including almost all stations in the United States. Flexible fuel vehicles run on standard petrol or E85, a fuel with 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

Fuel Cells

Still in a research phase, fuel cells will use hydrogen to power a battery-like device. The fuel cells are more efficient than batteries and can be run continuously unlike batteries which have to be recharged. The fuel cells are complicated by the need for hydrogen and the complexity of producing and storing the gas.

Methanol

Like ethanol, methanol is an alcohol. Methanol is derived from product such as oil shale, coal, natural gas and even waste from agriculture. Methanol burns cleanly and blends with petrol. Methanol is already used in race cars and is being considered an excellent fuel for high-compression engines.

Woodgas

Made from wood or agricultural byproducts, woodgas was used in World War II using wood burners in trucks and trailers. Today researchers are looking for ways to power vehicles using woodgas.

Compressed Air

Compressed air is being used for an alternative fuel with no emissions. The clean air is compressed in a canister and then released to move the pistons of an engine. This lets air alone power a vehicle. These vehicles are just a year or two away from being commercially available.