Alternative fuel for cars and other powered engines
Types of alternative fuel for cars
LPG
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a mix of propane and butane –
hydrocarbon gases that turn to liquid when compressed. It comes from oil
wells and oil refineries.
SOLAR POWER
Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity, which can be used to
power an electric motor or to produce fuels such as hydrogen.
DIESEL
Rather than being ignited in an engine by the spark from a spark plug,
diesel fuel, obtained through the partial distillation of crude oil, is
designed to combust in the heat of highly compressed air in the chamber
of an internal combustion engine.
ETHANOL
An alcohol produced by the fermentation of plant juice with high levels
of sugar, or from crops with high levels of carbohydrates such as wheat.
BIO DIESEL
A diesel fuel manufactured by enhancing the chemical composition of oils
such as vegetable, canola and coconut oil, as well as cooking oils and
animal fats.
FUEL CELL
Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity and heat. The
electricity can be used to power an electric motor, and the only
emissions are heat and water.
HYDROGEN
Considered the ultimate clean fuel as it burns pollution-free, producing
only heat and water vapour. While we currently lack the infrastructure
to fuel cars with hydrogen, it’s seen as the fuel of the future.
Mercedes Benz now have the
A class Hydrogen.
HYBRID
Hybrid cars generally have a petrol engine as well as an electric motor
powered by a battery pack that recharges during normal driving. The
electric motor kicks in at various stages to save petrol. Nissan are
making inroads to Hybrid with the development of Lithium -ion batteries
within the next 5 years. The biggest selling hybrid in the world is the
Toyota Prius.
Compressed Air.
Now this is interesting and development here has mainly been
with cheap budget vehicles like the
Tata Nano.
The main determinant of fuel prices is the cost of crude oil, which
is a commodity that is traded internationally in US dollars, so the
strength of the Aussie dollar against the greenback is obviously a
factor in rising fuel prices. Excise and GST also make up around 40% of
the final cost per litre. There is also a cost in refining the crude
oil, and a profit margin added on to that.
These costs create the terminal gate price, which is the wholesale price
petrol stations buy it at. Of course, petrol stations must then add
their own profit margin.
Worldwide demand also affects the cost of fuel, and oil is not only in
demand to fuel road vehicles, ships, boats and planes, but also for the
manufacture of everything from bicycle helmets to fertilisers,
computers, cosmetics, paints, even chewing gum. The increased need for
oil in the US over winter to heat homes, offices and so on, will also
affect the price of fuel in Australia.
International incidents that affect the flow of crude oil into the
market, such as instability in the Middle East or hurricanes in
important oil-producing regions, can also affect the cost of petrol, and
these have been claimed to be the cause of recent price rises.
Good news at Honda
In Takanezawa, Japan, on June 16, 2008, Honda Motors produced the
first assembly-line FCX Clarity. More efficient than a hybrid vehicle,
the FCX Clarity combines hydrogen and oxygen from ordinary air to make
electricity. The vehicle does not emit any pollutants and its only
by-products are heat and water. The FCX Clarity also has an advantage
over hybrids in that it does not require a rechargeable battery and the
use of electricity. The lack of hydrogen filling stations throughout the
U.S. will keep production volumes low, although the FCX can be filled at
a traditional pump if necessary.
Prius to be built in Mississippi
Toyota
is struggling to keep up with demand for its Prius hybrid in North
America due to skyrocketing fuel prices, and waiting lists at some
dealerships are starting to stretch as long as eight months. Demand for
its SUV and pickup models, however, is continuing to falter and in
response to these changes in consumer demand Toyota will adjust the
production mix at three of its plants in North America.
The Prius hybrid will be built at a plant under construction in Blue
Springs, Mississippi. Production is scheduled to begin in late 2010. The
Prius is already manufactured in Japan and China but the North American
market remains the car’s biggest, with more than 130,000 units sold last
year alone.
Hybrid
For Australia
Fuel saving ideas thanks to NRMA web site Australia.
Buy a smaller car and rent a larger
one when necessary.
Prolonged warming up of post-1990
cars is unnecessary, but avoid high
revving a cold engine.
Don’t fill your tank beyond the
first full click of the pump.
Never rev the engine before
switching it off.
Use cruise control on the open
highway.
Turn air cond off and open windows in
urban areas and at slower speeds.
Without making the engine labour,
move into high gear as soon as possible.
Travel below the speed limit on
multi-lane roads, but keep left.
Check tyre pressures and have the
car serviced regularly.
Avoid unsealed, rough or gravel
roads if you can, where fuel consumption
rises by up to 30%.
Remove heavy items from the car if
they are not being used, such as golf
clubs, tool kits, roof bars and bullbars,
to decrease weight and drag.
Accelerate and brake smoothly, and
read the traffic a long way ahead so you
don’t have to change speed often.
Plan trips to avoid peak hour
whenever possible, and combine several
trips into one if you can.
Icelandic New Energy Ltd. is a joint venture owned by VistOrka hf
(New Business Venture Fund, Reykjavik Energy, The National Power
Company, University of Iceland, The Technological Institute of Iceland,
The Icelandic Fertilizer Plant, Sudurnes Regional Heating Corporations,
Icelandic Development: Capital Area) and by DaimlerChrysler, Norsk Hydro
and Shell Hydrogen. The purpose of the company is to “investigate the
potential for eventually replacing the use of fossil fuels in Iceland
with hydrogen and create the world’s first hydrogen economy”. In that
sense the focus of the company is to examine different projects that
relate to changing a society from using the conventional fossil fuels to
using hydrogen (hydrogen-based fuels) instead.
Paris Motor Show Unveils the Hyundai i20 Blue Hybrid
Hyundai will try and make its presents felt world wide with the
first showing of its Blue i20 and Santa fe Blue hybrid
This information on this page is from the NRMA website.
Toyota
is struggling to keep up with demand for its Prius hybrid in North
America due to skyrocketing fuel prices, and waiting lists at some
dealerships are starting to stretch as long as eight months. Demand for
its SUV and pickup models, however, is continuing to falter and in
response to these changes in consumer demand Toyota will adjust the
production mix at three of its plants in North America.
