ALT-1 Alternative Fuel Sources
America's need for alternative fuel sources became more apparent after the attacks of 9/11 when gasoline prices leaped to over $3.00 per gallon. The roller coaster ride of gas prices following a true catastrophe, or an imagined one, left most consumers frustrated and feeling trapped by big business and foreign cartels. People became increasingly interested in alternative options to their present situations.
At present, the wide spread use of gasoline and diesel fuel are the accepted fuels of most of the cultured world. There are alternative fuels available and being used but in specific and limited applications. Fleet vehicles and company owned and maintained trucks where bulk fuel quantities are an economic factor are among present operations in use. Wide spread use of alternative fuels are still an exercise in informing the public of options and allowing technology to provide the means to implement them.
E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline is the current opportunity to use alternative fuels with present vehicles. General Motors Company advertises two million vehicles in use are E85 compatible. These cars are called flex-fuel vehicles (FFV's).
Ethanol is an alcohol based fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starchy crops converted to simple sugars. Renewable crop selections for ethanol include corn, barley and wheat. Modifications would be necessary to modern automobile engines to use pure alcohol as a primary fuel.
Bio-diesel is an alternative to petroleum diesel as ethanol is to gasoline. Derived from vegetable oils and animal fats, bio-diesel is safe, biodegradable and reduces air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particles and air toxins when used as a fuel.
Natural gas is a possible alternative to gasoline having the infrastructure already in place as well as the reputation of reliability and dependability. Vehicles designed for and operated by natural gas produce fewer harmful emissions than conventional fuels.
America's search for alternatives to present fuel dependability and costs will require a measure of time to solve. The need to change present transportation means by adding alternative fuels to existing fuels is certainly a step in the right direction.
