Alternative Fuel to Fight Diesel Fuel Prices

2010-09-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

When diesel was much cheaper than gasoline, everybody went to buy diesel engine vehicles. But the soaring prices of crude oil in the world market and the increased demand for diesel have significantly increased diesel fuel prices, especially in July 2008. While it is becoming cheaper now, no one really knows if diesel prices will stay at its current low price level. And so technologists, scientists and environmentalists have developed alternative fuel to fight the soaring cost of fuel prices including diesel and gasoline.

Biodiesel

Originally, the diesel engine was designed to run on vegetable seed oil or peanut oil. But since petroleum fuel was cheaper then, people have forgotten that diesel engine can run on these natural oils. Now, it is making a comeback. Biodiesel, as we know it today, can be soybean oil, animal fats, vegetable oil or recycled restaurant grease. The good thing is, any diesel engine can run effectively on B20 (a mixture of 20 parts biodiesel and 80 parts petroleum diesel). These natural oils are clean and biodegradable. Biodiesel has lower carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulates emissions.

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)

LPG is a byproduct of petroleum refining, which are widely used for home heating and cooking, can be a substitute to diesel fuel. LPG is cheaper than all petroleum products. It contains hydrocarbons and vapor at its normal pressure and temperature. Its main component is propane. LPG is widely available and can be used as an alternative fuel with a conversion kit.

Ethanol (E85)

Ethanol is made from fermented biomass, usually corn. Completely biodegradable and renewable, ethanol is clean and doesn't contribute to greenhouse gas emission. It got the name, E85 because it is composed of 85% alcohol and 15% gasoline. Although it is becoming widely available today and can be used on any diesel engine vehicle, E85 is pricier than other types of alternative fuel.

Methanol

Methanol is naturally abundant on earth or can be made by fermenting biomass. It is somewhat similar to ethanol. However, the availability of methanol is still a problem.

Electricity

The two main issues of electric cars are: it cannot cope with the current traffic and battery life. But with the release of the first sports car that runs on pure electricity – Tesla – these 2 issues are put to rest. However, the technology has yet to completely take off. There may be developments here and there but aside from Tesla, there are very few (plug-in) electric cars on the market today. Aside from this, electric cars are very expensive. The next best option, then, is to go hybrid. Hybrid cars have electric motor and diesel or gasoline engine (there are other types of hybrid cars). Although they are more expensive than regular cars with diesel or gasoline engine, they have the best fuel mileage the market can readily offer.

Hydrogen

The most abundant element on earth is hydrogen so it is only fitting to use it as a form of energy. But you cannot get hydrogen for free; it can be made by electrically splitting (electrolyze) water to its basic components – hydrogen and oxygen. In a sense, a hydrogen-powered car runs on water. Unfortunately, the market has yet to see mass-produced hydrogen cars.

You may have noticed that almost all alternative fuels have a problem of their own. But with the undergoing development and constant research, it won't be long before we see our vehicles running effectively from any of these alternative fuels.

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All About Hybrid Cars

2009-12-20T07:28:00.000-08:00

It's probably not a news flash that gas doesn't seem to be getting any cheaper. People all over are asking what they can do about the rise in price, and often the answer is to choose a different vehicle. That's simple, right? But what kind of vehicle should you choose? Just maybe, you should try a hybrid car.

The hybrid cars are the talk of the town these days. They come in great colors, sleek styles, and they will make your commute less expensive. When you look at those characteristics of a hybrid car, how could you not choose to run to the car dealer right now and pick one up? Well, we all wish we could do just that, but before you run out, maybe you should learn a bit more about these cars.

A hybrid car is a vehicle that is run on electricity. A combination of a conventional propulsion system and a rechargeable energy storage system that is onboard the vehicle work together to give the vehicle better fuel economy than cars that run strictly on gasoline.

Hybrid cars are unlike battery electric vehicles because the batteries used in hybrid cars do not have to be charged by an external source. Instead, in order to get a charge, kinetic energy is generated by way of regenerative braking. Furthermore, some hybrid cars make use of their own combustion engine to create electricity. The combustion engine does this by spinning an electrical generator. The spinning does one of two things. It can either recharge the battery or in a more direct way, it can give power to an electric motor. This motor is what then drives the vehicle.

Therefore, because this fuel-economizing vehicle can generate its own electricity, it is very different from a vehicle that is run strictly on batteries. But, there is no waiting while your car charges up outside in the garage before you go to work. All you have to do is get into the car and ride.

It is true that some people have experimented with electrical vehicles in the past. However, the introduction of the hybrid car outdid these types of cars when it came on the scene.

Because the hybrid car is so innovative in the way it powers itself and the way it is able to save travelers money on fuel, it's called the car of the future. At least that's what some automakers believe, and many consumers agree with them. The next wave of the automotive market, Hybrid cars continue to be purchased by customers as the years go on.

So if you want a car that saves on gas and will make you the talk of town, perhaps you should invest in a hybrid car.

And you might find yourself tired of just pulling over at local gas stations to fuel up. If that's the case, you have another reason to think about purchasing a hybrid car. So get on over to the car dealer. It could be the best decision of your future.

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Alternative Fuel to Fight Diesel Fuel Prices

All About Hybrid Cars