Product Profile: The Fuel 411

As the merciless taunt of gasoline prices continues, talk of alternative fuel is circulating more than ever. If words like “E85″ and “CNG” leave you a little in the dark, we are pleased to shed some light:

Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting the sugars of certain crops, most commonly corn. Barley, wheat, rice, sorghum, sunflower, potatoes, sugar cane and sugar beets can also be used, as well as some trees and grasses. Corn is used most often in the U.S. because of its abundance and low price.

There are two types of ethanol. E10 is a blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline sold in many parts of the country. All auto manufacturers approve the use of blends of 10 percent ethanol or less in their gasoline vehicles. E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. It can only be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). FFVs can run on gasoline, E85 or a mixture of the two. To see if you can tank up on E85, check your owner’s manual or the inside of your car’s fuel filler door.

Advantages:

• Produced domestically
• Lower emissions of air pollutants than gasoline
• Added cost to vehicle is small

Disadvantages:

• E85 can only be used in FFVs
• Fewer miles per gallon than gasoline
• Expensive to produce

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled restaurant greases. There are many types of biodiesel. It can be used in its pure form (B100), or blended with petroleum diesel (B5, B20, etc). Most manufacturers recommend owners stick to B5 or less.

Advantages:

• Domestically produced from renewable resources
• Can be used in most diesel engines (blends of B5 or less)
• Biodegradable, non-toxic and safer to handle than gasoline

Disadvantages:

• Lower fuel economy and power
• More expensive than gasoline
• More nitrogen oxide emissions than gasoline

Natural Gas

Natural gas is a fossil fuel and one of the cleanest burning alternatives. It can be used in two forms: compressed natural gas (CNG), or liquefied natural gas (LNG). Dedicated natural gas vehicles run only on natural gas. Dual-fuels can run on natural gas, gasoline or diesel. The only natural gas car currently available in the U.S. is the Honda Civic GX NGV, but other vehicles can be retrofitted to use it.

Advantages:

• Most natural gas is domestically produced
• Less expensive than gasoline
• Less greenhouse emissions and pollutants than gasoline

Disadvantages:

• Dual-Fuels require two separate fueling systems, taking up extra space
• Lower fuel economy than gasoline
• Less readily available

Propane

Propane is often referred to as LPG: liquefied petroleum gas. Like natural gas, LPG is a fossil fuel that burns clean. Another similarity is that vehicles can be retrofitted to run on LPG. No LPG-fueled passenger cars or trucks have been produced commercially in the U.S. since 2004, when a handful of vehicles such as the Ford F150 were available with propane fueling systems. Most commonly LPG fuels buses, delivery trucks and police cars.

Advantages:

• Most LPG is domestically produced
• Fewer toxic and smog-producing pollutants than gasoline
• Less expensive than gasoline

Disadvantages:

• No vehicles offered commercially since 2004
• Lower fuel economy than gasoline
• Less readily available

Hydrogen

The use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel is top on the list of current research. Hydrogen is converted into energy by fuel cells. A fuel cell is a device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water and heat. The conversion of fuel to energy is an electrochemical process, not combustion, so the process is not only clean but also quiet and highly efficient. Fuel cells are different than batteries in that they do not run down or require recharging—they create their own energy.

Research continues on using hydrogen to fuel cars. The fuel-cell-powered Honda FCX Clarity just rolled off the production line this month and a few dozen will be distributed this year. Although they are not expected to reach the mass market before 2010, fuel cell vehicles may someday revolutionize transportation, according to the U.S. Energy Department.