Due to the rapidly increasing price of gasoline, many drivers are seeking alternative fuel vehicles and technologies. Such solutions reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and dependence on foreign oil sources.
Electricity powers all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, emitting zero tailpipe emissions when running solely on battery power. Furthermore, hybrids use electricity as a replacement for gasoline to lower emissions during acceleration.
Electricity
As part of their effort to reduce dependence on nonrenewable crude oil sources, auto manufacturers are turning increasingly toward alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel for car use. Both options use fuel from crops like corn or sugarcane instead, cutting our dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels like gasoline.
Electricity is a renewable, clean energy source with zero tailpipe emissions that is stored in rechargeable batteries in all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), providing power when they’re parked, with zero emissions generated as a result.
EVs offer climate benefits by charging with renewable power sources; thus acting as an important link between renewables and transportation sectors, but only when widely adopted. A reliable, smart EV charging infrastructure must also be in place so that the greenest vehicles can fulfill their potential in terms of both energy efficiency and environmental impact.
Biofuels
As liquid fuel demand is projected to skyrocket, we urgently require sustainable alternatives that reduce dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels that harm the environment and are major sources of greenhouse gases (GHG).
Current biofuel production centers around corn ethanol and oilseed biodiesel production. With limited resources and costly technology required for these methods, more comprehensive plans must be formulated in order to meet future fuel demands.
High oil prices have raised awareness of alternative liquid fuel options, including advanced biofuels. But their profitability depends on various interrelated factors – such as corn and vegetable oil feedstock prices, as well as government support policies that promote supporting technologies to lower second-generation biofuel costs.
Natural Gas
Fossil fuels often receive a bad rep when it comes to energy sources, being nonrenewable and emitting huge quantities of carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming. But one fossil fuel could serve as an “bridge” toward cleaner future: natural gas.
Natural clay deposits form over millions of years when layers of decomposing plants and animals are subjected to intense heat and pressure from Earth, eventually becoming compressed or liquefied in order to make vehicle storage and usage more practical.
Natural gas currently powers over 175,000 vehicles in the US and 23 million worldwide, such as buses, garbage trucks and freight-hauling vehicles. With nearly 900 CNG and 60 LNG fueling stations available worldwide to fuel them up with CNG or LNG respectively, fleet operators can lower emissions without significant disruptions to daily operations while lowering facility operating costs – although its lower energy density compared with gasoline means natural gas vehicles have shorter ranges than their diesel counterparts.
Fuel Cells
Fuel cells produce electricity via an electrochemical reaction without combustion, by separating hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, water vapor, and heat; with the latter two products serving to power an electric motor.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional combustion engines and provides an invaluable means of supporting greener transportation and energy security. As fossil fuel reserves shrink further, developing renewable sources has become a top priority across sectors to decarbonize operations.
Hydrogen offers many advantages over its fossil-fueled counterparts, particularly water electrolysis: production can be powered by renewable energies like wind or solar and stored for use at times when wind or solar resources are abundant. Furthermore, hydrogen can be quickly refilled similar to gasoline tanks allowing for the rapid deployment of hydrogen refueling infrastructure as well as providing for an enjoyable driving experience thanks to its silent operation.