ALT-2 What is Alternative Fuel
Alternative fuel is anything that can be used as fuel other than conventional fuels such as fossil fuels, coal, propane and natural gas. There are several alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, vegetable oil and natural gas. But for now, all the alternative fuels have serious disadvantages.
The non-carbon monoxide pollutants that our automobiles cough out every day hangs over our cities in the form of smog. Alternative fuels (in theory) are supposed to be cleaner, reducing air pollution.
Ethanol, extracted from corn or other grains, is mixed with gasoline, creating what is known as gasohol or oxyfuel. The cost of ethanol is estimated at about $1.40 per gallon, producing just 70 percent of the energy of regular gasoline. Ethanol has been proven to corrode and cause build-ups on engine and fuel system parts. Many automobile manufacturers warn that ethanol can cause problems.
A recent study estimates that all cars and trucks will run on ethanol by 2048. This would mean that a huge portion of the country will be covered with corn fields which would naturally use up vast amounts of farmland and send food prices skyrocketing.
Methanol is more harmful than gasoline and the most hazardous of the alternative fuels. Ingesting even a small amount of methanol can cause serious consequences and even death. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless and is toxic even when absorbed through the skin which has the potential to cause many fatalities.
Producing alternative fuels will have far-reaching effects. While increasing the supply of ethanol may lower the need of conventional fuels, the production of corn-based ethanol will cause prices to soar in most everything made from corn.
When it comes right down to the plain facts one thing is certain, which is an increasing need to develop alternative fuels in order to decrease our dependency on conventional fuels. Global warming of course is the main focus for causing this search for alternatives.
Experts agree that unless alternative fuel use takes place soon we will reach a point where our needs will exceed supplies which could happen within ten to twelve years. The search for an alternative fuel is essential because as long as we continue to use foreign oil, we're always going to be in someone's hip pocket.
Therefore, alternative fuels appear to be one of the most important issues the world will have to face in the coming years along with a failing economy, global warming and climate change- that is, unless the Lord Jesus Christ returns first; and considering some of the events now happening in the world today, it could very well happen.
