Smart Money Car Tips header

Thinking About The Alternative Fuel Option?


  Let's get you up to speed with a few basics.   Just like with any new, slightly controversial subject, there are pros and cons to talk about regarding the use of alternative fuels to power our vehicles.  But, before you can take one position or another on the subject, you probably ought to be aware of the fact that there are more alternative fuels to choose from than you're probably aware of.  

  There are actually 5 different types of alternative fuels that are being commercially developed these days.  Alternative fuels are the wave of the future as scientists continue to look for even more cleaner burning fuels that won’t damage the environment while providing greater advantages to the vehicle owner.  

   Probably the most well known type of alternative fuel is ethanol.  Ethanol is often called grain alcohol because it is made from corn and/or soybeans.  Ethanol can also be made from organic materials including agricultural crops and waste, plant material left from logging, and trash including paper!  The ethanol that's on the market right now is known as " E85" which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.  Even though it still has gasoline in it, ethanol burns much cleaner than regular gas and saves on gas mileage for those who use it.  

   Another type of alternative fuel is Methanol, which is considered to be a cousin of ethanol since they are both alcohol-based products.  Methanol is sometimes called wood alcohol and can be made from various biomass resources like wood, as well as from coal. However, today nearly all methanol is made from natural gas, or methane, because it is cheaper to produce using those sources.

   Propane, or compressed natural gas has long been used to provide energy to homes, but it is rising in popularity as a type of alternative fuel for vehicles.  Many mass transit buses are now powered by clean-burning propane and that's sure been a blessing in crowded city streets.  This familiar fuel is like oil inasmuch as it comes from underground. However, natural gas, as the name implies, is a gas much like air, rather than a liquid like petroleum. It has been found to be an environmentally friendly fuel, and its popularity is growing.

   You can find another type of alternative fuel in the form of good old fashioned Electricity.  In fact, electric vehicles have been around for a long time, and they are coming back in popularity due to the sytaggering price of gasoline and environmental concerns.  Electric vehicles don't burn gasoline in an engine. They use electricity stored on the car in batteries. Sometimes, however, 12 or 24 batteries, or more, are needed to power the car.

   One of the most interesting and promising type of alternative transportation fuels is Hydrogen.  Only experimental vehicles for the most part are operating on this fuel right now.  But the potential for this unique energy source is excellent and many ingenious researchers around the world are developing new techniques for cheaply capturing the power of hydrogen.

   Hydrogen is the lightest of all elements and is easy to produce which is why it is sending waves of excitement throughout the alternative fuel industry.  It is being hailed as the next big news story about alternative fuels that can be used in vehicles.

  With a growing concern over global warming, the use of all of these alternative fuels will grow in popularity over time and we'll likely begin to see many other types of alternative fuels make their appearance in the not too distant future.  

Pros & Cons
   People who strongly support the widespread use of alternative fuels – ("the pros") – could list a hundred ways that alternative fuel helps the economy, the environment, and the budget.  On the other hand, those who oppose it –(" the cons") – could also probably list a hundred reasons why we should NOT use alternative fuels.

   On the PLUS side, to begin with, we must consider the fact that alternative fuel is cleaner burning than gasoline which is, of course,  good for the environment.  As we are confronted with many environmental concerns these days such as global warming, many people feel that we really need to realize that it’s up to each and every one of us to help stop these problems.  When we use an alternative fuel in our car or truck instead of gasoline/diesel, we are helping to stop the release of contaminated elements into the air.

   Most (if not all) alternative fuel vehicles now also get better fuel mileage than their gas-guzzling cousins and this is another advantage brought by the use of alternative fuels.  Especially in hybrid vehicles, MPG (miles per gallon) can be increased by more than 20 percent over a period of time!  That can make a world of difference to any driver who has to pay such exhorbitant fuel prices like those the world is currently faced with.

   There are also tax incentives that can be found when you buy and use an alternative fuel vehicle.  The governments of most of the developed countries in the world know that there are pros and cons to the use of alternative fuel, so they want to make it as attractive as possible to the consumer to make the switch.  Who doesn’t want to save money on their taxes? 

   On the NEGATIVE side of the issue, the problems generally associated with these fuels in the collective mind of the connsuming public are sufficient enough to be a  major concern to marketing professionals.  And in the world of  Marketing, Perception is REALITY. 

   Alternative fuel vehicles are often more expensive than regular gasoline vehicles.  Even though you can get a tax break for buying one of these vehicles, you can still expect to pay anywhere from 10 to 40 percent more retail price for an alternative fuel vehicle.

   But the single greatest arguments against the commercial production of alternative fuels stems from 3 recently recognized facts:
  • Production of most alternative fuels actually increases harmful emissions into the atmosphere over what the production of gasoline does.  It's also far more costly than originally thought.  (The notable exception to this fact is Hydrogen.)
  • The effect on the world's food chain is suddenly being seen as unbelievably disastrous since corn and rice are now being raised mostly to make alternative fuels.  The farmers  are seeing windfall profits that rival those of the oil industry.  And - in the U.S. - they're also being paid huge farm subsidies by the government to NOT grow other crops.

  • The lack of corn in the market has effects on the entire food chain.  But most importantly, what little grain that is available has become so expensive that tens of thousands of people (maybe millions) cannot afford to buy it.  People all over the world are now literally STARVING because the manufacture and widespread use of Ethanol has been governmentally mandated.   

   The scant availability of processed alternative fuels is another negative associated with the whole subject.  While many places now carry E85 fuel (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline), it may be difficult to find other alternative fuel types.  Even the stations that do carry E85 aren’t as plentiful as many people would hope and drivers often find themselves going out of their way (thus emitting more uncessary pollutants into the environment) just to “gas” up their cars.

   The pros and cons of using alternative fuels can forever be debated.  Whichever side you’re on will depend on your commitment to our environment and a healthy dose of common-sense ... regardless of your political positions.  In all cases, it should probably be argued that the PEOPLE of the world must come first before cars, commerce, or profits.





   

Subscribe Now!
Brand New
5-Part e-Mail
"Mini Course"

This 5 part e-course shows why you may want to invest in a hybrid car or truck; all the different types of hybrids; how to determine which hybrid vehicle is right for you; the real truth behind all the myths about hybrid cars; and much more!  There is no obligation but this will only be offered for a limited time ...












Related Articles

John Brotchie-Hard Working Author Poolside