Alternative Fuel Automotive Wisdom

Posts Tagged ‘Fuels’

OriginOil CEO Addresses Algae Fuels Conference at World Biofuels Markets LOS ANGELES—-OriginOil, Inc. , the developer of a breakthrough technology to.

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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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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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Joining the throng of car makers dedicated to help ease the world’s dependence on fossil fuels is DaimlerChrysler, the largest truck manufacturer in the world. At the National Biodiesel Board Annual Conference, Deb Morrissett, the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for the said company, persuades the growing biodiesel industry to carry on their commitment to develop a natural standard for B20 as car makers are focusing their attention on developing and producing vehicles that will use run on alternative fuels.

The challenge to create a national specification for biodiesel is issued by Morrissett while stating that doing so would speed up the adoption of biodiesel. He further added that doing so would also help in the harnessing and directing the diverse research and investment efforts put into the development of such alternative fuel. He said that biodiesel should have a national fuel specification just like other fuels. “I’m looking forward to the time when anyone can fuel up with B20, but we’re not there yet,” he also added.

Morrissett also encouraged the industry to stay tuned for the company is intending to build on their diesel engine leadership for the coming future. They would do this with help from their partners like Cummins. As a sign of the company’s dedication to produce vehicles that will run on more environment friendly fuel, they have unveiled their Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles which come equipped with a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine. This engine can run on B5 and B20 biodiesel. The said vehicles will become available in the market in March this year. The two trucks already meet emission standards that will be implemented in 2010 and this simply shows the company’s dedication to make their trucks not only to be high performance vehicles but are also safe just like EBC brake pads.

The company’s dedication to lessen the dependence on fossil fuel does not end in their use of efficient and clean diesel engines but they are also one of the car manufacturers which are developing the use of alternative fuels on their vehicles. A concrete example of this is the usage of B5 fuel of their Jeep Liberty and Jeep Grand Cherokee models. Both vehicles are approved for regular use of the B5 biodiesel fuel. Furthermore, their 2007 Dodge Ram can run on B20 biodiesel fuel and can be used for commercial, government, and military fleets.

Their support for the alternative fuel industry does not end there either. The company is planning to develop and produce cars that would be equipped with efficient gasoline engines, hybrid cars, flex-fuel vehicles which can run on gasoline as well as alternative fuel like bio-ethanol, electric vehicles and a test fleet of more than 100 fuel cell powered vehicles.

Their commitment to produce flexi-fuel vehicles will see them producing 250,000 units of the said vehicle which can run on E85 fuel – a fuel that is a mixture of gasoline and bio-ethanol. The 85 in the E85 stands for the percentage of bio-ethanol in the fuel which means that the E85 is 85 percent bio-ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The flexi-fuel vehicles that DaimlerChrysler will produce can also run on conventional gasoline efficiently. The company aims to double the production of their FFV fleet to 500,000 units in 2008.

During the conference, Loren Beard, manager of Fuel Legislation, Regulation and Policy, along with Scott Schramm, Manager of Regulatory and Technical Affairs, also tackled engine warranty issues, OEM experience with alternative fuels and how to deal with new regulations. The National Biodiesel Board Conference was held last February 5 in San Antonio, Texas.

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Americans demonstrated their concerns over middle eastern energy dependence on fossil fuels and rising gas prices with a landslide defeat of Republican energy policies. These concerns are inextricably linked to fuel efficient cars and cleaner alternative fuels. The Democrats big win was a major bolster to green cars and alternative fuels.
Among the most striking politcal changes is the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Previously it was Republican James Inhofe, who referred to global warming as “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind,”. Now Barbara Boxer is in, a California Democrat who strongly advocates mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
A close second to the most striking changes is in the House Resources Committee. Jerry McNerney, a California Democrat and wind-energy executive, will replace the current Republican chairman, Richard W. Pombo, who fought to open public lands to private interests.
Fuel efficient standards are emerging as a major political topic. Fuel-efficiency has declined during the past decade for nine of the 13 major manufacturers selling vehicles in the United States, according to a new study by the Consumer Federation of America.
Money losing U.S. automakers say that they can’t compete with fuel efficient imports as they suffer from a more than $1,000-per-vehicle disadvantage of higher costs for health insurance and pensions and therefore require government bailouts. This argument is continuing to lose steam though as profitable companies like Honda now produce more than 80% of their vehicles in the US and Canada.
Democrat Edward Markey has proposed raising combined light truck-car standards to an average of 33 miles per gallon by 2016 models. Democrat Barack Obama proposed increasing the average to 40.5 mpg for passenger vehicles and 32.6 mpg for the light-truck category, which includes SUVs, by 2020. Jerry McNerney, who defeated Pombo in California, says he will “dramatically increase the fuel efficiency of new vehicles.”
Fuel efficiency and energy independence is already taking a foothold in the next presedential election as likely Republican presidential candidate John McCain of Arizona and Democrat/Independent Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut both wish to address global warming. This will put even more pressure on the current Bush administration to cooperate with the Democrats as the Republicans look to avoid another blowout.
The future is definitely looking a little greener.

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Obtaining and using the alternative fuels bears political, practical and economic benefits, which if compared to the costs, can force the business and homes to change into alternative fuel. Let us look at some of the benefits of using the alternative fuels.   Gasoline as a fuel to operate all the things right from transport to electricity and the Air conditioners can be considered. Hydrogen energy is the main source of this power. The power plants and vehicles that function on hydrogen can be 25% more efficient than the oil and gas. These hybrid cars can be a little expensive but in the long run will provide more efficiency.     Solar energy is a well known alternative and has been used for functioning small equipments. Installing large solar panels in the roof of homes and companies will be fruitful, as they will gather free energy from the sun. This is a safe and easy to run alternative fuel. It has zero residual pollution. The costs of installation can be a bit high but the savings in the future will cover it all up.   Harnessing electricity from wind energy is another alternative fuel. This can be set up in the locations that have great wind power. Around 82 sq. feet of the windmill blades will generate around 175 watts of power.   Ocean wave energy is a great form of alternative fuel. It is a very reasonable and dependable source. You can predict the tidal charts but it is very difficult to predict the wind or solar or rain energy. It produces zero pollution. The installation of the turbines can be expensive but will provide around 80% of efficiency.

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For many reasons its becoming very important that which fuel would be leading the world in near future. The question is which alternative fuel will dominate the future whether it would be electric or solar? With today’s rising population and excessive use of fuel we have to think for the better alternative fuel in the coming future.

In United state; people are demanding for the alternative fuel instead of gasoline fuel. They have reasons for this change in their way of thinking due to various reasons. One of the major reason is world is going towards the global warming and alternative fuel could be the better option to fight with it. The cost of gasoline is increasing day by day and it would be unpredictable in near future. The traveling though automobiles are becoming expensive due to these reasons. The alternative fuel suggested by the scientist has many advantages over the gasoline and would give freedom from the dependence on fossil fuels.

While choosing the alternative fuel you are saving the environment at the same time, you are saving money also. The alternative fuels vehicles are one of the best invention of scientist towards the saving the environment. These vehicles don’t run on gasoline and doesn’t rely on petrol as hybrid cars.

Hybrid cars are those cars which use both gasoline and electricity to run on roads. This car work with the help of internal combustion engine and battery back up for the propulsion power.

Solar cars are those types of cars which use solar panels to capture the energy from the sun. This doesn’t require ant type of fuel like gasoline or electricity. These covert the solar energy into electric energy and stores in the battery which serves the purpose of gas tank in the combustion of car.

If you look towards electric cars which works on electricity is also good alternative fuel for the future. They run on electricity so they are best for the environment as it doesn’t produce pollution. The amount of electricity required can be controlled by the driver. The electricity required by the electric car can be obtained from other sources like solar, wind or water. These cars are also expensive than other usual cars. It needs prior planning fro the travel as it needs to be charged for three to four hours before traveling.

Both are the best alternatives sources of fuel soon as, both can cut down the cost of gasoline and protect the environment from pollution.

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