Driving Alternative Fuel Home

Innovative technology has made dozens of different alternative fuels available, including ethanol, propane, hydrogen, electricity and methanol. Beyond the seven standard alternative fuels listed by the U.S. Department of Energy, there are various fuels being developed, including coal to liquids (CTL), gas to liquids (GTL), biobutanol and ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD). Consumption of alternative fuels is on the rise; who’s making use of them and what are their shortcomings and risks?

A brief history of the alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) from J.D. Power and Associates tells us that Europe was on to something before we were, and that biodiesel “has been used in the United States in fleet vehicles for decades, [but] only recently has it become more widely available to the general public.”

Ethanol is one of the most popular alternative fuels today. In fact, carmakers are starting to produce “flex fuel” vehicles that can run on either gasoline or ethanol. But lately, the emergence of this new fuel has raised questions about its quality and how its effects on the environment are being monitored. A 2007 press release from the Natural Resources Defense Council tackles some of the challenges of introducing this new form of fuel into the market.

findingDulcinea’s Beyond the Headlines explored a potential risk of biofuels: growing grain for fuel could mean that there’s less grain available to feed hungry millions worldwide, and might raise food prices for the populations least able to afford such increases.

What’s the deal with vegetable oil? You’ve probably heard stories of people using their regular cars and driving around the country with only vegetable oil in the tank. Although the Engine Manufacturers Association does not condone the use of veggie oil (it’s a risky fuel at extreme temperatures), it’s an increasingly popular form of alternative fuel. The Web site Journey to Forever, which is devoted to renewable energy projects, explains the pros and cons of SVO (“straight vegetable oil”) fuel from the perspective of people who have actually tested it.

Learn more of the science behind SVO from National Geographic’s prescient article about vegetable fuels from 2003. The article focuses on the work of the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), part of the USDA. In 2003, NCAUR began analyzing vegetable oils such as soybean oil for their chemical structure, their renewable potential and their rate of decomposition, which is much more efficient than that of petroleum.

Get on the cutting edge of biofuel research with detailed information about  fuel research projects at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), made available on the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Web site.

The alternative fuel station locator on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) site restricts your search to certain types of fuel, suggesting that only these few are widely available in the United States. Of these, several are still being contested as viable emission reducers, in part because of their impact on food shortages. Use the site’s mapping tools to find a route near fueling stations, and search the online database to find stations with the particular fuel you need. Take a look at fuel profiles to learn the different properties of each.

Not all of us are immediately prepared to use alternative fuel; it will take more regulations within the DOE and more car manufacturers before alternative fuel use becomes more widespread and better regulated. Until then, fueleconomy.gov offers insight into how to make your car cleaner and more efficient. Browse through tips for better gas mileage, a guide to hybrid vehicles and tax incentives, information on alternative fuel and “flex fuel” cars, and more.