Gas Alternatives You Should Consider

Fossil fuels such as gas and oil are a limited resource that is being depleted by the high demand for it. As well time has shown that the emissions from these fuels are harmful to our environment. So it’s time we changed our way of thinking by finding alternative fuel sources. Here are some gas alternatives you should consider.

Alternative fuels run and act much like traditional fuels such a gasoline but they are not made from petroleum based products. There are several gas alternatives already available on the market and the future is promising for even more choices.

Alternative fuels are less harmful to the atmosphere because they burn cleaner. They are also generally less expensive. Some of these alternatives actually aren’t new but have been refined to better meet our modern needs. Others are entirely new concepts.

Alcohol based fuels such as ethanol or methanol are becoming more popular. Ethanol is made from fermented plant materials that have been converted into a useable alcohol fuel. It can be made from corn, wheat, barley, and even trees and grasses. Research on ethanol fuels is very promising and it is believed that in the future any type of plant will be convertible.

Electricity is an alternative choice that stores its power in batteries. It makes a good transportation fuel to power fuel cell or battery vehicles. On electric vehicles the energy is stored in batteries which currently do have a limited storage capacity and thus a limited travel distance.

Fuel cells works differently. The electricity is produced as a result of a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. There is no combustion and no pollution with the only by-products being water and heat.

Hydrogen is going to become a major player in the development of future transportation methods. It can be produced in unlimited amounts using renewable resources. It is already used in several different internal combustion engines and the future of it is promising.

Propane is also a popular alternative to gas because vehicles because the infrastructure is already in place and it can efficiently distributed. Vehicle conversions are a bit on the pricey side but still an alternative that is worth considering.

Biodiesel is like diesel but rather it is made from either animal fat or plant oil. It is domestically produced and it is a renewable fuel. You can even use recycled restaurant greases. The only draw back is you might smell like a big mac going down the road.

It is biodegradable and reduces the serious air pollutants such as carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons. A blend of 20% Biodiesel with 80% regular diesel can be used in most vehicles without any modifications but always consult your owner’s manual. You can also use Biodiesel alone with some engine modifications, although it may not be appropriate for some winter climates.

There are other gas alternatives that are available and more and more innovative choices appearing each year. Currently almost all fuel used for transportation comes from petroleum based products and this has played a direct role in the damage to the ozone layer and global warming.

It is hope in the not so distant future the gas alternatives will be more affordable, more convenient, and more easily accessible so that more and more people convert. After all we need to do our part for future generations!

Aura Mirchandani is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory.