Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Fuels

Biodiesel (B100)

Biodiesel Fuel is diesel fuel consisting of oils derived from animal fat and recycled cooking grease.  Some of the advantages of this fuel are that it can be made from home.  Most diesel engines can utilize biodiesel fuel as well as it emits less air pollutants and greenhouse gases.  In addition, it is also biodegradable, non-toxic as well as is a lot safer to handle compared to traditional diesel.  The disadvantages of biodiesel fuel is that B100 gets 10% less fuel economy then tradition diesel as well as it also not suitable for really cold weather conditions. Other concerns are also noted as far as B100 long-term effects on engine life, it is expensive and more importantly it emits nitrogen oxide.  (Biodiesel, 2008)

Ethanol (E85)

E85 or ethanol is a mixture consisting of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.  Some of the more beneficial factors of using E85 is that it can produced within the United States therefore decreasing our dependence on the trade of petroleum.  E85 emits less air pollutants than traditional gasoline, also it is resistant to engine fuel mixture detonation or in laymen, “engine knock.”  E85 is also not as expensive in most places compared to  gasoline. Some of the downfalls of using E85 is that only certain cars can run this fuel, such as flex-fuel cars, trucks, SUV’s.  In addition, not every gas station carries E85, as well as your vehicle will have lower gas mileage and as of now producing, the mixture is costly.  (E85, 2008)

Conclusion

  As the decades pass, we are very fortunate to have acquired the technology that will deliver the infinite possibilities of rectifying our current issues with air pollution.  As far as the technology that is available, the electric car seems to be more beneficial to the environment.  Where the vehicles can be produced with the lease amount of natural resources.  Although with our economy’s current climate, some factors such as cost and unemployment need to be considered as far as implementing these new vehicles. A great deal of the market’s backbone has to do with traditional gas and diesel associations, that would need conversion and or aid in that fact that people who hold occupations dealing with gasoline and diesel would be out of jobs.  On the brighter side of the spectrum, United States dependence on other countries such as the Middle East would decrease and in turn probably force them to find new markets and even the possibility of signing a peace treaty.  Although, it may seem farfetched, I believe that converting to electric based energy vehicles and equipment would be both beneficial in long term to the economy and more importantly our environment. 

References

1.      Biodiesel. (2008). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from FuelEconomy.Gov Web site: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/biodiesel.shtml

2.      E85. (2008). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from Fueleconomy.gov Web site: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ethanol.shtml

3.      Explore Fuel Cells. (2007). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from New Mexico Solar Energy Association Web site: http://www.nmsea.org/Curriculum/7_12/Fuel_Cells/fuel_cells.htm

4.      Freedom, O. (2009, March). Water Powered Car: The Benefits and Disadvantages. Retrieved June 22, 2009, from CarPoweredWater.Blogspot.com Web site: http://carpoweredwater.blogspot.com/2009/03/benefits-and-disadvantages.html

5.      Fuel Academy: ULSD Fuel Tutorial. (2008). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from Desc.dla.mil Web site: http://74.6.146.127/search/cache?ei=UTF-8&p=ULSD+disadvantages&fr=robo&u=www.desc.dla.mil/dcm/Files/ULSDTutorial8-16-06Non-Audio.ppt&w=ulsd+disadvantages+disadvantage&d=DYwBBBlMS-Uw&icp=1&.intl=us

6.      Wisler, A. J. (2009). Advantages of Electric Cars. Retrieved June 22, 2009, from LoveToKnow: GreenLiving Web site: http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Advantages_of_the_Electric_Car

7.      Yap, W. (2008, November 25). The Advantages & Disadvantages of Hybrid Cars. Retrieved June 22, 2009, from Associated Content Web site: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1227938/the_advantages_disadvantages_of_hybrid_pg2.html?cat=15