Alternative Fuel Automotive Wisdom

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Car buyers are now opting for fuel efficient vehicles offered by different car manufacturers. This is what the Auto Alliance announced as a way to start the celebration of the National Alternative Fuel Autos Week.

The group of car makers reported that there are now 10.5 million alternative fuel vehicles on U.S. roads according to 2006 sales data from R.L Polk and Co. The data also shows that last year alone, more than 1.5 million alternative fuel vehicles were sold. The figure surpasses the expectation of the auto industry by as much as 50 percent.

Today, car makers based in the U.S. or abroad are offering 60 models of alternative fuel vehicles. These include hybrid electric vehicles, flex-fuel vehicles which can run on a combination of gasoline and bio-ethanol, and diesel engine equipped vehicles which gets its juice from biodiesel.

Dave McCurdy, the President of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, has this to say during the announcement: “There are 10.5 million Alternative Fuel Autos on the roads and highways of every state across the country. We are happy to see that consumers are, in fact, discovering the alternatives that are available to them on dealership lots nationwide. We believe that the numbers of Alternative Fuel Autos on the roads continues to rise because consumers can choose from a variety of autos that reduce fuel use while still providing the utility, safety, performance and comfort they seek.”

While there are a lot of alternative fuel vehicle out in the market, car manufacturers are still looking for ways to develop more technology which will be employed by their vehicles to make them more fuel efficient. Alternative fuel vehicles are not the only vehicle to be produced with concern for the environment in mind though.

Conventional vehicles are also equipped with features that make them more fuel efficient and more eco-friendly. These features include fuel injectors, variable valve timing, continuously variable transmission (CVT), and exhaust filtration devices like the Nissan catalytic converter. These features allow even conventional vehicles to consume less fuel but still perform at the highest possible level.

In order to offer more fuel efficient vehicles, members of the Alliance have created partnerships with the alternative fuel industry to make alternative fuel more available to consumers. As of today, members of the Alliance have created over 25 partnerships with other industries to facilitate the development of newer alternative fuel technology.

The aim of the group is emphasized on McCurdy’s statement. “Having exceeded our sales expectations in 2006, we hope that 2007 will be another banner year for sales of Alternative Fuel Autos. This year marks the first-ever National Alternative Fuel Autos Week and automakers hope to draw more attention to the availability of these autos currently for sale.”

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US President George W. Bush outlined in his State of the Union Address his administration’s aim to reduce the country’s dependency on foreign oil. The “Twenty in Ten”, essentially reducing gasoline consumption by twenty percent in ten years time, has received the support of the Big Three as the heads of General Motors, the Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corp. attended a meeting with the President recently.

Good news for the administration is the use of alternative fuels by large vehicle fleets. The President inspected the alternative fuel vehicles used by large fleets in the United States.

Among the largest fleet in the country using fuel efficient vehicles are the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, UPS, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. These large fleets are contributing to the country’s energy independence by using different types of alternative fuel vehicles on their fleet. These fleets use a variety of alternative fuel vehicles which includes hybrid electric vehicles, biodiesel engines, compressed natural gas or CNG, liquefied natural gas, propane, and hydrogen fuel cell units.

All these technologies are known to be good substitute to gasoline since they all come from renewable sources and have limited greenhouse gas emissions as when compared to petroleum gasoline or diesel fuel.

Among the large fleets in America, the U.S. Postal Service has the largest number of alternative fuel vehicles being used. The 13 percent of the 289,000 vehicles in the fleet represents the biggest fleet of alternative fuel vehicles in the world. Hybrids, biodiesel, compressed natural gas, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles composed thirteen percent of the U.S. Postal Service’s fleet.

UPS, meanwhile, has the biggest alternative fuel fleet in its class with over 1,500 alternative fuel vehicles. Its alternative fuel vehicle fleet is composed of compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, hydrogen fuel cell, and hybrid electric vehicles.

FedEx operates about a hundred hybrid electric diesel vehicles in its alternative fuel vehicle fleet. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority or METRO, like FedEx, also takes advantage of the hybrid electric diesel technology. It has already 50 units of alternative fuel vehicles on the road and being used as part of their service.

These large fleets clearly support the Clean Cities Program which promotes the use of alternative fuel vehicles to reduce gasoline consumption. The program is in connection with President Bush’s “Twenty in Ten” goal. The vehicles used by these fleets are as reliable and safe as Volvo S60 parts and at the same time provides the fleet operators good fuel economy.

The production of greenhouse gases is also reduced thereby lessening the negative impact of their fleets on the environment. With the plug-in hybrid still in development, these fleets have the potential to even expand their alternative fuel vehicle fleet.

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The dramatic rise in oil prices over the past few years has generated a lot of attention for alternative fuels and alternatively powered vehicles. Environmentalists hail it as the beginning of a revolution and a natural consequence of using non-renewable resources with abandon. The public health benefits that would result from a major increase in those using alternative fuels is almost immeasurable. Even Texas, second only to Alaska in the amount of oil produced per year, has biodiesel stations in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and many other parts of the state.
All the major car manufacturers are coming out with hybrid models, and prototypes are in the works for an American release of a mass-produced, plug-in electric hybrid vehicle as early as 2009. These models promise up to 150 miles per gallon, and that’s just the beginning of what this technology can do. More and more Americans are planning to buy an alternatively- fueled vehicle as their next car or truck.
While sticker prices for these alternative vehicles is currently higher than their conventional petroleum-based counterparts, manufacturers claim long-term savings in fuel costs and reduced environmental impact. Price will also most likely go down in the future due to economies of scale. Logically, then, public health stands to improve as their usage increases and fuel emissions decrease, making most of us — from the single students at Texas A & M, to health insurance company executives — look forward to the change.
Now, telling all of these alternative fuels apart is an altogether different challenge. “What exactly is biodiesel again?” And, “I know hybrids are supposed to be a good thing, but…er, what are they?” To make life a little saner, here is a basic run-down of the most popular current and upcoming technologies:
Hybrid Vehicles
Technically, a hybrid vehicle is simply one “using two or more different types of devices for propulsion.” This can be as simple as a sailboat with an onboard motor;: wind is used when available, and a petroleum fuel-powered motor, or otherwise-powered engine, when it is not. Hybrid vehicles use the same idea, only with a more complicated technology.
A variety of drivetrains are possible with hybrid vehicles, but those currently on the market are usually hybrid electric, such as the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, and the Honda Insight. These use internal combustion engines powered by petroleum fuels (such as gasoline or diesel), combined with rechargeable electric batteries to power electric motors. Most major cities across the U.S., including Dallas, Houston, and Austin, have thousands of hybrids already on the road.
The idea behind these hybrids is that the internal combustion engine can switch to an electric motor when the conditions are right. The greatest advantage over conventional vehicles is the better in-city gas mileage. Most of these models, however, use a fairly inefficient internal-combustion engine — and petroleum-based fuels — while on the highway, like any other conventional vehicle.
Some vehicles currently marketed as hybrids are not actually hybrids at all, such as the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid pickup truck, which uses a conventional, oversized starter motor in which the engine turns off while the car is coasting, braking, or at a stop. The motor then restarts quickly. This process can save up to 10% in fuel, but this is a low percentage in comparison to other hybrid models. If searching for a hybrid, the best thing to do is look closely at fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
Hybrid models have actually been in use for some time. Trolley buses, for instance, are hybrids. They switch between on-board diesel engines and overhead electric power sources. Many mass transportation companies are also using a mixture of alternative power sources and bio fuel additives to run their fleets.
Other types of hybrids include flexible-fuel vehicles, which use a mixture of input fuels in one tank, usually petroleum-based and biodiesel. Gas and bioethanol is a common flexible-fuel combination, as is diesel and biodiesel. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) use a combination of traditional fuels and electric power.
Electric Vehicles:
These are not always technically distinguishable from hybrid models, as most electrically powered vehicles have a back-up system that runs on petroleum-based, biodiesel, or ethanol fuels. For the purpose of clarity, however, the term “electric vehicles” here refers to those vehicles that run primarily on electric power.
While small numbers of electric vehicles have been used for quite some time, and while hybrid conversion models are available, mass-produced models are expected to be released within the next few years. The most common model under prototype is the PEV, or the “plug-in electric vehicle,” also referred to as a “grid-connected hybrid.” They are much what they sound like — vehicles that are literally plugged into an outlet to recharge the batteries on which they run. The main difference between PEVs and PHEVs is in the ratio of electricity to fuel used to power the engines. Urban areas known for their environmental policies, such as Davis, California, have had power stations for electric vehicles in place for several years already.
Electric vehicles reduce air pollution, dependence on oil, emit fewer greenhouse gases, and increase national energy security. An all-electric operation in California would reduce fuel costs by three-quarters.
Ethanol:
Ethanol, or grain alcohol, has come into the spotlight in recent years due to the increasing volume of corn ethanol produced in the U.S. While there is some controversy over the use of corn ethanol — the unimpressive EROEI, or energy returned on energy invested, and the inability for the country to produce enough of the product to supply demand — the idea is that of a clean-burning fuel made from renewable resources.
Brazil has taken this concept to new levels. Ethanol made from sugarcane is the largest national fuel industry of that country, and all gas distributed there must be at least 20% ethanol. Half of all cars in Brazil are able to use 100% ethanol as fuel, which includes vehicles with ethanol-only and flexible-fuel engines.
Efficient sugarcane processing made this possible. With 30% more sucrose than corn, sugarcane ethanol is not only more efficient, but much easier to extract. The biomass waste from the plant, “bagasse,” is then used as fuel in electric power plants.
Biodiesel
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Biodiesels are “alkyl esters made from the transesterification” of vegetable oils or animal fats. In laymen’s terms, biodiesels are processed, organic oils to be used as fuels.
Biodiesel is, perhaps, the most promising alternative fuel available today. It can be made from any number of vegetable oils, used in most modern diesel engines without modifying them, is biodegradable and non-toxic, wears less on the engine than conventional diesel, and “produces 60% less net carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum-based diesel because it, itself is produced from atmospheric carbon dioxide” via plant photosynthesis. Consumers have reported up to 70 miles per gallon, and, if you learn how to process waste oils yourself, it’s virtually free.
The fuel can be purchased at select stations, even in big oil states like Texas, though it is generally a bit more expensive than conventional diesel. This will likely change, however, as demand increases. German fuel stations customarily have a biodiesel option, and as the fuel is so popular there, it’s actually cheaper than petroleum-based diesel.
It almost seems too good to be true. The problem? Most passenger vehicles in this country don’t use diesel engines. With increased awareness, however, this problem could be quickly solved.
Mass-produced, alternatively fueled vehicles are an exciting delivery of technology. Particularly with the price of petroleum-based products skyrocketing, it’s a welcome change for consumers and environmentalists alike. The positive effect on public health and the environment, and the reduction in dependence on foreign sources of oil could literally change the face of energy consumption, as well as the future of domestic and international relations. Our biggest responsibility as citizens then, is to educate ourselves and take advantage of these opportunities — both for our own health, and for the health of future generations.

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Gasoline prices have fallen. Hence, automakers have to entertain alternative fuel vehicles to provide more options to consumers. This is especially true to automakers that are relying greatly on non-gasoline vehicles.

General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said, “With the price of oil at its lowest level in 19 months, we run the risk of reverting back to our traditional energy policy. That is, relying heavily on the lowest-cost energy available on world markets, including imported oil, without providing adequate support for developing alternative sources.” He also added, “I hope oil prices stay low, but I also hope that our nation stays committed to energy security through energy diversity.” The statement of Wagoner came after the revelation of the University of Michigan study that focused on auto executives’ and other experts’ comments on gasoline prices and government fuel economy standards.

At the annual automotive event, an auto supplier executive called for imposing a steep tax on gasoline to help fund the transition to alternative energy sources, especially hydrogen. Alternative fuel, also called alternate fuel, is any substance or material that can be used as fuel other than fossil fuels and other conventional fuels. It also pertains to renewable source of energy.

The essence of alternative fuel is to store energy in a stable form that can be easily transported from the place of production to the end user. The latter is then able to consume the fuel at will. The demand for alternative fuels is triggered by ecological concerns. In 2000, about 8 million vehicles ran on this type of fuel.

Alternative fuels include biodiesel, ethanol, butanol, chemically stored electricity like batteries and fuel cells, hydrogen, methane, vegetable oil, biomass, natural gas, wood and peanut oil. Types of alternative fuels include gasoline type biofuels like butanol, E85 with 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline blend, P-series fuels and hydrogen internal combustion. To boost the performance of the engine, car systems are modified. Toyota parts and accessories are modified to complement the fuel used by the vehicles. Volvo tie rods and other car parts are also engineered to specifically entertain the new technology.

At the North American International Auto Show, GM is showing off a concept plug-in hybrid named the Volt. It can travel 40 miles on battery power alone. In its totality, Volt offers a bold and quality statement. Chevrolet wants to prove that beauty and efficiency combined in one car.

Detroit’s Big 3 have been urging the Bush administration to help their efforts in developing alternative fuels like biodiesel and E85, an ethanol-based fuel. The Big 3 also seek aid in the production of batteries to power vehicles. It can be recalled that the top executives of the Big 3 met with Bush in November last year to discuss alternative energy plans however; they got no promises from the president.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration sought authority to raise fuel economy requirements for passenger cars. This was opposed by the Big 3. “One of the things that government has to do to really promote energy diversity is proactively support the development of alternative fuel technology,” Wagoner said. “And incentivize consumers through tax credits, fuel subsidies and so on to adopt these exciting new technologies.”

According to a recent survey conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, respondents predicted that fuel prices and fuel economy standards will rise substantially in coming years. It was also anticipated that gas prices will average slightly more than $4 a gallon by 2015 and just over $5 a gallon by 2020. Respondents are composed of automakers, suppliers and other experts.

The study also found that Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for cars are expected to amplify to 33 mpg in 2015 and 38 mpg in 2020 which is a 38 per cent jump from today’s 27.5 mpg standard. For trucks, CAFE standards are predicted to rise to 27 mpg in 2015 and 31 mpg in 2020, a 44 per cent increase from 21.6 mpg today. “Our research reveals surprising agreement among all stakeholders in the automobile industry that fuel prices are on a steep upward trajectory,” said U-M researcher Bruce Belzowski.

“If we’re ever going to get there, we better start. That much I agree with,” said Don Altermatt, senior manager of diesel engineering for DaimlerChrysler AG regarding the proposal to boost alternative fuel sources. “Is there a need for a national energy policy? Absolutely,” added Nancy Gioia, director of sustainable mobility technologies and hybrid vehicle programs at Ford. “We have not got the kind of collaboration yet that we need.”

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In the auto industry, the month of April is being celebrated as the National Alternative Fuel Autos Month, and in observing that, automakers reported the number of alternative fuel vehicles in the state of California.

It is widely known that the mentioned state is one of the major frontrunners in the battle against global warming in the United States. The numbers of alternative fuel vehicles on California’s roads were reported to have increased in the year 2006 as compared to the number of alternative fuel vehicles back in 2005.

R.L Polk and Co. undertook the study to find out the number of alternative fuel vehicles on the state of California. The research firm reported that in 2006, the number of alternative fuel automobiles in the state reaches 837,743. That number includes different alternative fuel vehicle types which includes hybrid electric cars, E-85 fuel vehicles, and vehicles running on bio-diesel. The said number shows a 17 percent increase in the number of alternative fuel vehicles in the state compared to 2005 figures. R.L Polk and Co. also reported that California has the second most number of alternative fuel vehicles on its roads for the mentioned periods.

The research firm also reported that the combined sales of auto manufacturers of alternative fuel autos reached 1.5 million for the year of 2006. That number exceeds the expected sales figures set by automakers in the country by 50 percent. That marks the most number of alternative fuel vehicles sold in the United States in a year. That also brings the total number of alternative fuel automobiles in the country to 10.5 million through 2006.

And considering the increasing demand for such vehicles and the sales figures for companies producing those vehicles, it seems that that number would continually increase over the next few years.

Dave McCurdy, the president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, has this to say about the current trend concerning the sale of alternative fuel vehicles: “I am pleased to see that the sales of Alternative Fuel Autos are rising. The auto industry is a dynamic high-tech sector and manufacturers are committed to selling vehicles that can run on something other than just gasoline. Consumers are taking notice.” He also added that: “Automakers believe that consumer awareness, fueling infrastructure and government incentives all work together to help put more Alternative Fuel Autos on the roads.”

The increased number of alternative fuel vehicles on the country’s roads is the direct effect of the wide range of alternative fuel vehicles being offered by car manufacturers. This year, there are 60 models of alternative fuel vehicles available in the U.S. auto market. In 2000, the number of models offered to the public is only 12. The number of gas-electric hybrid, bio-ethanol, and bio-diesel engined vehicles has shown an increased number and more are on the way with car manufacturers move to address the demand for such fuel efficient vehicles.

Aside from these technologies, car manufacturers are also developing newer technologies which allow conventional gasoline engines to consume less fuel. In the case of Nissan, they are pushing the use of the continuously variable transmission to reduce fuel consumption. Deactivation of one or more cylinders of a vehicle’s engine while cruising is also another technology and technique which is currently being used by car manufacturers to reduce fuel consumption of their vehicles.

Regenerative braking is also another technology used by auto makers and this technology is complemented well with efficient brake components such as those found at EBC active brakes direct.

Although there are a huge number of alternative fuel vehicles on the country’s roads, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. A concrete example of this is the practicality of vehicles which can run on E85 fuel. The use of bio-ethanol reduces the amount of greenhouse gases and also reduces the dependency of the country on foreign oil.

The most pressing problem though is the availability of bio-ethanol refilling stations. This means that there are a lot of alternative fuel vehicles which still runs on gasoline instead of the more environment friendly bio-ethanol.

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The alternative energy movement has finally reached a tipping point. The combination of oil prices leaping over $115 a barrel and coal costs doubling has been essential in awakening a new sense of consciousness about alternative fuel. With US drivers paying close to $4.05 per gallon of petrol and California drivers paying approximately $4.20 per gallon, enthusiasm is growing for a national agenda to embrace use of alternative energy. Whether these be wind, liquified coal, or solar, US consumers are finally realizing that our nation’s energy independence and economy are inextricably linked to reducing our dependence on traditional fuels. It would appear as if the political climate has never been better for the alternative energy community. To truly seize this moment, the organizations that comprise the community would be well served to consider the benefits of technology in enhancing the cross community communication needed to generate lasting accomplishments. Indeed, most alternative energy lobbying organizations could experience benefits from the use of new technologies that enable collaboration. Examples include Rondee’s system which enables easy to deploy teleconferencing as well as online conference calling and networking tools. Tip #1: Utilize web tools for networking The most successful alternative fuels advocacy organizations create networks of supporters who believe in their values and mission. While the term networking frequently gets a less than ideal connotation, the simple reality is these networks can provide significant help. Today in Silicon Valley, the expectation is that professional folks will have at least a basic LinkedIn profile. At the same time, other networking applications such as Facebook are starting to see usage by more professional users. Such applications also provide a relatively easy way of developing your network. Tip #2: Leverage a free conference calling application In the last handful of years, there has been escalating degrees of collaboration between geographically separate alternative fuels advocacy groups. One underlying reason for this trend has been reduced flight travel costs – a trend that may now be reversing with the leaping oil costs mentioned above. A separate reason is the availability of the sorts of these systems, including those launched by Rondee operate on the same underlying principle. They offer groups a PIN and a toll number to call. If all teleconference users dial the same number and enter the same code, they are put into the conference call. Tip #3: Consider technology to enable desktop sharing Some alternative fuels advocacy groups have distributed leadership groups, and it is impractical to expect face-to-face meetings. Technology is addressing this problem by way of desktop sharing. Whether it’s viewing a PowerPoint document displaying the group’s development plan or a spreadsheet showing the tracking of volunteer participation desktop sharing can be extremely useful for not a few green groups. Tip #4: Deploy an electronic newsletter platform It was not that long in the past that sending out an email newsletter was time consuming and tricky. That has now changed. On-line systems are making it possible to create templated and scalable newsletters. These services reduce the work load by at approximately 90% and in so doing enable green organizations to concentrate on content creation rather than delivery of messages. Tip #5: Leverage data based decision-making One of the key trends recently affecting nonprofit organizations in the alternative fuels community has been the increasing reliance on evidence driven decision-making. Managers can apply the same techniques with simple to use Excel or Lotus spread-sheeting applications to determine what works and what does not work. Increasingly, the hurdle for quality decision-making is rising and thus reliance on conjecture and theory is being systematically replaced by empirical data to support decisions.

 

Everyday the number of automobiles on the road is on the increase everywhere in the world.

 

That means more and more gasoline is required to keep them on the run.

 

Not only that, we produce all kinds of pollutants which destroy the environment.

 

They create air and water pollutions, solid wastes, and loss of arable land for paving roads and parking lots.

 

The pollution thus caused has a great impact on human and planet health.

 

Instead of owning individual vehicles, public transportation can be encouraged wherever and whenever possible to reduce the fuel usage and thus the pollution.

 

Most of the people try to buy a new car every year, which induces the manufacturers to produce more number of cars, leaving the old cars to stay back, sometimes as junk.

 

One of the ways to diminish the production of new cars is to go for a second-hand car and use it for a longer time.

 

Hybrid cars are in fact one way to increase the fuel efficiency and better fuel economy.

 

They use two or more sources of power together in order to directly or indirectly provide enough power of propulsion.

 

Most hybrid cars today are gasoline-electric hybrids.

 

Alternative fuels are being used in many countries in order to increase the fuel efficiency.

 

Bio-diesel is one of them.

 

It is made from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled restaurant greases.

 

It is considered to be safe, bio degradable, and cuts down on air pollutants like toxins, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulates.

 

Electricity is another one used as a transportation fuel by providing power to battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles.

 

The only byproducts are heat and water.

Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel that is made by fermenting and distilling starch crops such as corn, barley and wheat have been broken down into simple sugars.

 

It is usually used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline.

 

Hydrogen may be produced in almost unlimited quantities using renewable resources and used without producing harmful emissions.

 

Natural gas is also another alternate fue,l which burns clean and produces fewer harmful emissions.

 

Liquefied petroleum gas  (LPG) or propane is another alternative, which produces fewer vehicle emissions than gasoline.

 

Alternative fuels are being used to reduce the harmful emissions from the automobiles.

 

Only time will tell us – what are the impacts of these alternative fuels, cost-wise and the influence on food.

 

Still scientists are hopeful to get a better fuel – cheap and safer for the future demand, which is going grow or decrease!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The safety of vehicles is always a very important consideration to make when choosing a new vehicle. It is also something that you will need to think about if you are deciding whether or not to convert your car to run on any form of alternative fuel.

Many people contemplating converting their cars to run on LPG wonder just how safe LPG is as a fuel. Because it’s called Liquid Petroleum Gas many people are concerned about its stability. Gas might be quite dangerous, however LPG isn’t necessarily.

LPG is a very safe fuel which has some excellent reports for safety, the main reason that LPG cars and trucks are safe is because of the way the fuel tank is constructed. This fuel tank is different to a petrol tank and is much more robust, this means that it won’t become damaged as easily.

LPG installations also have safety features to help prevent danger if there is a leak. LPG systems use quick fuel cut off systems which use 3 solenoids to shut off the LPG system if there is an accident, or if the car is not currently running. If an accident causes any damage to the fuel lines then the flow of gas will automatically be cut off.

Many people are so interested in the safety of using alternative fuels because they are considering using them in their vehicles which will carry their children. Any LPG system will be safe as long as it is installed professionally. Remember these are not the types of system that you can install by yourself in a weekend, by doing that you are asking for trouble.

So is LPG really safe?

Believe it or not LPG is perfectly safe; it is perfectly stable and is no more dangerous than petrol. As the tanks are even tougher than petrol tanks safety is ensured. No matter whether LPG is installed in a car or commercial vehicle such as a van or truck the system is still safe.

If you are ever in an accident then your car will automatically shut off the supply of LPG in a similar way to how many cars shut off their petrol supply. This ensures that you are kept safe without the risk of any fuel catching fire.

Some people are more worried about installing LPG in their car because petrol tanks will remain in the vehicle. Your car has been designed to hold a petrol tank, however just because you fit an LPG tank it doesn’t mean that it’s bad news. As long as your alternative fuel tank is installed professionally it shouldn’t cause any problems.

All LPG tanks and systems undergo a series of tests to ensure that they won’t put you in any danger. Any decent alternative fuel system will ensure that the fuel supply is cut should your car ever be in an accident.

Alternative fuels are the way of the future, but that doesn’t mean you have to make any compromises in terms of the safety of your car.

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There are many alternative fuels available on the market today. President Bush seems to be on a mission stating that Americans are “addicted” to oil.

Alternative fuel is quickly replacing gasoline, resulting in fewer pollution and cost efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy is guiding the efforts due to a need to limit air pollution levels to protect human health and the environment. The following are a list of alternative fuels that are becoming more and more mainstream. Eventually, these fuels will replace our dependency on gasoline.

Ethanol is a fuel made from crop grain. It is a renewable fuel. Ethanol is used in 10 percent blends with gasoline to create gasohol. Ethanol is not considered an alternative fuel unless it is mixed at 85 percent with gasoline to create E-85. You will start to see E-85 being provided at all major gas stations in the very near future.

Another alternative fuel that is replacing gasoline is Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). LPG consists mainly of propane, propylene, butane and butylenes in various mixtures. LPG is a byproduct of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. LPG can also be produced domestically; therefore, lessening our reliance on foreign companies to provide our fuel.

Methanol is an alcohol free fuel. A process using natural gas as a feedstock produces methanol. The alternative Methanol fuel is being used as M-85.

Biofuels are also beginning to enter the mainstream. Biofuels are chemicals made from cellulosic biomass such as herbaceous and woody pulp from agricultural and forestry residues. A majority of biofuels consists of municipal waste and industrial waste. Biofuels are also domestically grown, reducing our reliance on other countries to supply our fuels.

Finally, good old electricity is being tapped into to help power vehicles, known as hybrids. Batteries provide the electricity used to power these vehicles. The batteries are charged from electricity that is produced at a power plant. Power plants utilize fossil fuels to produce energy. There are no emissions from a hybrid, which is good for the environment.

We have listed several alternative fuels that are going to continue to replace gasoline on a massive level. These fuels are better for our health and for the health of the environment. They also will cut our reliance on foreign countries to provide us with our fuel. The end result will be lower costs at the pump.

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Last January 31, 2006, President George W. Bush outlined his plan for the widespread use of alternative fuels in the country. In his State of the Union Address last month, he announced a proposed mandate that 35 billion gallons of ethanol be produced until the year 2017. He also proposed to reduce the amount of emissions of greenhouse gasses by as much as 20 percent by the year 2017. Out of the 35 billion gallons mandated to be produced, 15 billion gallons of ethanol will come from starch while the 20 billion gallons will be from cellulose or cellulosic ethanol.

Cellulosic ethanol is a type of ethanol which comes from cellulose. This is different from the normal ethanol which comes from sugars and starches. This kind of ethanol is what Novozymes are helping to develop. The company has developed an enzyme cocktail that makes the mass production of cellulose ethanol possible. This technology is a better alternative to normal ethanol since the production of the latter causes the increase in the price of corn. This is because cellulosic ethanol comes from biomass including wastes from urban, agricultural, and forestry sources. In the production of this type of ethanol, no toxic emissions are generated which makes it a better alternative than other fuels.

Novozymes recently received a very distinguished guest – the President himself. Bush toured the facility’s laboratories and he also did pose for pictures with the workers of the company. The visit of the President at the facility is a part of his effort to boost the morale of those working in the alternative fuel industry. Aside from the financial support of the administration in the form of $2 billion aid in the funding of cellulosic ethanol plants, he also provides moral support though his visits to those plants such as that one in Novozymes.

The use of ethanol as fuel for cars in the United States is a part of the administration’s effort to address the problem of global warming. Ethanol is a good substitute to gasoline since it burns cleaner than gasoline. The only thing to consider about the use of ethanol as fuel is its corrosive nature. Without fortification, engine parts like Volvo 240 parts will be corroded. To combat this corrosive nature of ethanol, car manufacturers and engine designers fortify different components of the car to take on the corrosive nature of ethanol.

With the increasing awareness of the global community towards addressing the global warming issue, the United States is on its track towards making a difference. The country has been criticized in the past for being one of the major causes of the destruction of the environment. With the steps being taken by the government and the private sector, alternative fuels like ethanol will one day be the most commonly used fuel by the majority on US roads. Aside from the development of ethanol as the fuel of the future, US agencies are also developing biodiesel for use of vehicles equipped with a diesel engine. Aside from these two alternative fuels, the US market is also being flooded with hybrid cars which also reduce the dependency of the country on imported oil fossil fuels.

President Bush’s commitment to the development of alternative fuel is a great boost for the industry. With the government’s backing, more and more alternative fuels can be produced which will result to cleaner emission by vehicles. The development of these alternative fuels can also increase the number of employed person in the country. It would also decrease the dependency of the country on other countries which produce oil and then later on export them to the US.

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