Top 5 Alternate Fuels of the Future

The most commonly used fuels in cars are petrol and diesel. But in recent times, there is a shift in automotive fuel. Eco-friendly alternate fuels are taking the place of petrol and diesel. Let us examine the top 5 alternate fuels of the future:

Ethanol

Ethanol is a clean burning fuel produced domestically from corn and other crop. It is much cheaper than petrol and diesel and also produces less greenhouse gas emissions. It is not directly filled in the engine but is mixed with petrol at different concentrations. E10 is a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline and is also known as gasohol. In few countries even E85 is used that is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. There are possibilities that the concentration of ethanol will increase to 95% so that the amount of emissions can be drastically reduced.

Adding ethanol to gasoline helps to clean and complete combustion that not only improves performance but also reduces emissions. The reduction in emissions is attributed to the presence of oxygen factor that causes clean and complete combustion.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel derived from animal fats and vegetable oils. The fuel does not contain any petroleum but can be blended with petroleum-based diesel to use as a fuel for vehicles. It has lower emissions as compared to diesel and is far better for safeguarding the environment. That is the reason why many car manufacturers today are researching more on the usage and significance of biodiesel as future fuel.

One key advantage of using biodiesel is that it is produced using renewable sources such as soybeans. This in turn reduces dependencies on imported oil and majorly contributes to nation's economy.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen can be domestically produced from fossil fuels such as coal. It is one of the most unbelievable but fuel-efficient fuels that will redefine the destiny of future cars. It is believed that hydrogen can easily drive a vehicle without emitting any pollutants.

Any car or other vehicles pull water into the combustion unit where the water molecules form hydroxyl gas. This gas is further pulled into the engine's carburetor to power the vehicle. The engine then emits water vapour that is completely free of harmful pollutants. It is also tested that the use of hydrogen will also result in smooth and quiet operation delivering more torque and better acceleration.

Hydrogen fuel is yet not available in the market but few car manufacturers including BMW are testing the reliability and credibility of hydrogen to power vehicles.

Compressed Air

Compressed air is soon going to become a popular alternative fuel to run cars. The basic principle of running cars purely on air is to feed the stored air under pressure to the engine to generate torque. The future cars powered by air will have huge storage tanks filled with compressed air preferably made of carbon-fibre to reduce weight whilst maintaining strength of the engine.

The use of air will effectively reduce the cost of the car because in such a case there will be no need to build spark plugs and cooling system. It will also result in reduced emissions and lower cost of running. Tata Motors has already started its venture with a French-based technology inventor, MDI to produce the world's first air car.

Solar Energy

The use of solar energy to drive vehicles is a rare concept but is gradually making its position as one of the most significant future fuels. The simple concept is based on the energy received from the sunlight.Vehicles powered with solar energy are actually electric vehicles that tap solar energy with the help of solar panels fitted on the roof of the vehicles. These solar panels comprise of photovoltaic cells that convert the sun's energy directly into electrical energy. Though the concept is not practical for day-to-day transportation, it is expected to be a part of the future car industry.