The Best Alternative Energy for Cars
Can you drive all day in a bushel of corn? How far can the wind take you when the road is tough? As the race for alternative fuels heats up, with carmakers and motorists looking to be more environmentally responsible, let us take a look at the truth about bioenergy and identify which among them makes a good choice.
E85
Alcohol, in its pure form, is not volatile enough to get an engine to life under cold temperature; hence the E85 was formulated.
The blend is composed of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. It is an excellent, clean-burning fuel that provides more horse power than gasoline. And, as a matter of fact, it has a higher octane rating than the latter. It burns cooler than the traditional fuel, too.
The downside, though, is that ethanol is a corrosive agent, like most types of alcohol. Anything exposed to it-from hoses to fuel-injection components-must be resistant to corrosion.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
CNG is typically found in underground deposits and is obtained by drilling the earth. It can be converted into an alternative fuel for vehicles by removing contaminants in its methane component. It has an octane rating of over 130, making it the capable of optimising the thermodynamic capacity of an engine. What is more, it produces 90 percent less carbon dioxide and 60 percent lower nitrogen oxide-a real friend of the environment.
However, its usage is projected to be limited since natural gas in non-renewable. In addition, for a vehicle to carry enough CNG to travel for several miles, it needs to have a tank that is larger than a conventional one, which means that drivers need to carry extra heavier load.
Biodiesel
Among the common sources of this fuel are vegetable oils, animal fats, and used frying oils, and for these to be usable on cars, they have to undergo a process called transesterification, where all the contaminants are eliminated.
Notable characteristic of alternative energy source is that it burns cleaner and produces less emission than petrodiesel. What is more, its molecules are oxygen-bearing, making them capable of supporting their own combustion.
