What Are Alternative Fuels

In the simplest form, an alternative fuel is one that is not produced by using crude oil. They are simply fuels that replace conventional gasoline as a means of powering vehicles. Alternative fuels have desirable energy efficiency and pollution reduction features. The 1990 Clean Air Act encourages development and sale of alternative fuels.

More specifically, the Energy Policy Act (EP Act) of 1993 gave a more in-depth definition of what they consider to be alternative fuels. The United States Department of Energy recognizes the following as alternative fuels:

• Mixtures containing 85% or more by volume of alcohol fuel, including methanol and denatured ethanol
• Natural gas (compressed or liquefied)
• Liquefied petroleum gas (propane)
• Hydrogen
• Coal-derived liquid fuels
• Fuels derived from biological materials
• Electricity (including electricity from solar energy)
• 100% Biodiesel (B100)
  

Pure biodiesel (B100) is considered an alternative fuel under EP Act. Lower-level biodiesel blends are not considered alternative fuels, but covered fleets can earn one EP Act credit for every 450 gallons of B100 purchased for use in blends of 20% biodiesel or higher.

Through the Alternative Fuel Petition Program, third parties can petition the Department of Energy to add alternative fuels to the above list. People are always on the lookout for new ways to combat rising fuel prices and develop fuels that are not only good for the environment, but for the consumer’s checkbook as well.

Basically, alternative fuels include methane, propane, ethanol, and compressed gas among others. We’ll examine some of these a little later in the book, but alternative fuels don’t fall into one compact category other than the one that defines them as an option over gasoline.

It’s kind of exciting to think about the fact that we can now power our vehicles using things like vegetable oil, animal fats, and even wood! It brings to mind the movie “Back to the Future” where Doc would power his DeLorean time machine using garbage as fuel!

E85 Ethanol Alternative Fuel

Using E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel has become almost a rage in the United States. There is a new trend towards making our transportation needs more environmentally friendly. As global warming is becoming a growing concern, more and more people want to do their part to make sure that we have a world to live in for the next 2,000 years. Using E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel for your vehicle is a great way to start.

E85 Ethanol is a product that contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Ethanol is basically a grain alcohol that is made from corn, soybeans, and even plant waste and trash like
paper. Besides its superior performance characteristics, ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline; it
is a completely renewable, domestic, environmentally friendly fuel that enhances the nation's
economy and energy independence.

Today, the U. S. imports more than half of its oil and overall consumption continues to increase. By supporting ethanol production and use, U.S. drivers can help reverse that trend. Using E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel source can reduce pollution. Government tests have shown that E85 vehicles reduce harmful hydrocarbon and benzene emissions when compared to vehicles running on gasoline. E85 Ethanol can also reduce carbon dioxide (CO2), a harmful greenhouse gas and a major contributor to global warming.
Although CO2 is released during ethanol production and combustion, it is recaptured as a
nutrient to the crops that are used in its production. Unlike fossil fuel combustion, this unlocks
carbon that has been stored for millions of years, use of ethanol results in low increases to the
carbon cycle. E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel also degrades quickly in water and, therefore,
poses much less risk to the environment than an oil or gasoline spill.
There are many vehicles on the market today that are already E85 Ethanol compatible, so you
can use this as an alternative fuel to gasoline. A second option is to have your current car
converted from a gasoline engine to an E85 Ethanol compatible engine. You will want to have
this conversion done by a licensed mechanic, but it can be done!

We all know that there is a trend toward using alternative fuel to help the environment, and E85 Ethanol is one of the first ones to contribute toward that trend. It is currently available in many places and can do wonders for improving your car’s efficiency as well as your wallet. With the rising price of gasoline, it’s really a good idea to explore E85 Ethanol as an alternative fuel source for your vehicle.

source : www.Wonder-Homes.com

Ethanol Fuel Varieties

Suddenly there is a lot of talk going on about alternative fuels. One can be assured that ethanol and gasoline blends of up to 10% ethanol can be used to run some vehicles . So there need not be any worries about how this combination can be used for vehicles. There are some states which need the monthly or all- year use of ethanol up to 10% as a type of oxygenate additive to tone down the formation of the ozone layer.

Remember, low percentage oxygenate will blend, like ethanol fuel is not traditionally what is alternative fuels in vehicles. Ethanol vehicles are vehicles which are made specially to run on up to 15% gasoline (E85),85% denatured ethanol or any combination of the two in which Ethanol limit is up to 85%.In colder climates E85 can be adjusted in such a way that the actual ratio of E 85 is less than 85%Ethanol. Vehicles which use E85 are also known as FFVs or flexible fuel vehicles .

Right now there are many kinds of ethanol fuels being made and it is tough to decide which kind of fuel will suit which vehicle. Light - duty FFvs comprise of a large collection of vehicles which may range from compacts to sport utility vehicles to pick up trucks. FFvs have only one fueling system contrary to the bi-fuel natural gas as well as propane vehicles that have two exclusive fueling systems. A vehicle has to be able to use fuel blends up to 85% ethanol to be eligible to be certified as an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV)for tax credits , incentives to meet requirements for authorized fleets(federal, state, and fuel provider fleets) under the Energy Policy Act of 1992(EPAct).

In places like the Midwest where corn is grown in abundance, a large number of people use ethanol as a type of fuel for their vehicles.E85 is so popular amongst vehicle user in the Midwest that one finds long queues in the pump which sells E85. But for us who use gasoline run vehicles it pinches our pocket when we have to pay a premium on the cheap gasoline. Anyway, with the new tendency of using fuel which burns without pollution the price of ethanol can be made lower than gasoline as supply equals demand. At present the supply of Ethanol is higher than its demand. Shortly ,this could be turned upside down and the price of all kinds of ethanol fuel could be lowered to run our vehicles.



Source : www.Wonder-Homes.com