Introduction
The options for alternative fuel vehicles are growing more and more rapidly. It seems like every week we hear about a new kind of alternative fuel vehicle. In this post, we’ll identify some of the most recent developments in the field of alternative fuels, including electric vehicles (EVs), natural gas vehicles (NGVs), hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), E85 ethanol-powered vehicles and biodiesel-powered vehicles.
Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by electricity. They’re the most popular type of alternative fuel vehicle, and they can be charged from any electrical outlet or charging station. Some EVs have a range of 100 miles or more; others have shorter ranges but are still more convenient than traditional gasoline vehicles for short commutes or running errands around town.
EVs are more expensive than traditional gasoline vehicles, but they’re also more energy efficient–in fact, some estimates say that an EV will save you $6,000 in gas costs over its lifetime compared to a comparable gas-powered car! However, their high cost has kept them out of reach for many people who would like one as their primary vehicle (especially folks who live in rural areas).
Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs)
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that can be used as an alternative to gasoline. Natural gas vehicles are more efficient than gasoline vehicles, but they’re not as widely available and tend to be more expensive.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, or FCVs, are powered by hydrogen fuel cells. A hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity from the combination of hydrogen and oxygen. This electricity powers an electric motor that drives the car forward.
Hydrogen is an abundant element in nature and makes up about 90{a5ecc776959f091c949c169bc862f9277bcf9d85da7cccd96cab34960af80885} of all matter in the universe. It’s also found on Earth as water (H20) and methane gas (CH4). In its pure form it’s colorless, odorless and tasteless with a density about half that of air at room temperature–about 0.079 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3). Hydrogen has several advantages over other alternative fuels: it’s lighter than air so it doesn’t require special storage systems; it can be produced domestically; there aren’t any greenhouse gases emitted during combustion; there are very few moving parts which means less maintenance costs over time; they’re easy to refuel since they use ordinary refueling stations instead of specialized ones like electric vehicles do today (though these may change soon); finally there’s no worry about running out of power if something goes wrong because you always have more stored energy available than what’s needed right now
E85 Ethanol-Powered Vehicles
E85 is an alternative fuel that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). FFVs are capable of running on E85, gasoline, or any mixture of the two.
E85 is a mixture of 85{a5ecc776959f091c949c169bc862f9277bcf9d85da7cccd96cab34960af80885} ethanol and 15{a5ecc776959f091c949c169bc862f9277bcf9d85da7cccd96cab34960af80885} gasoline; it’s commonly known as “Flex Fuel.” These vehicles have sensors in their fuel systems that detect what type of fuel they are using–gasoline or ethanol–and adjust accordingly.
Biodiesel-Powered Vehicles
Biodiesel is a fuel that can be used in diesel engines. It is made from renewable sources such as vegetable oils, soybean oil, animal fats and recycled grease. Biodiesel reduces emissions of particulate matter and carbon monoxide compared to petroleum diesel.
There are many types of alternative fuel developments.
There are many types of alternative fuel developments. Some of them are already in use, while others are still being developed and may be years away from becoming commercially available. Some alternative fuels seem more promising than others; some are more practical than others; and some are more environmentally friendly than others.
The following is a list of the most common types of alternative fuels:
Conclusion
The future of alternative fuels is promising, and there are many types of developments being made. This article has only covered some of the most popular ones; however, there are many more that could be explored in a future article.
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