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Advantages of Alternative Fuel

Alternative fuel is also known as non-conventional or advanced fuel. It is any material that can be used as fuel that is not a conventional fuel. An example would be ethanol which is made from corn or biodiesel which is made from vegetable oil. Any fuel that comes from a source other than petroleum is an alternative fuel.

There are many advantages to using alternative fuels. Although standard fuel may be more convenient and cost less, the long term advantages of alternative fuels are worth the price. Since the federal government wants to reduce the standard power grid, they offer a lot of tax incentives for using alternative fuels. Vehicles that use alternative fuel give cleaner air. For example, a hybrid car releases about 90 percent less emissions of greenhouse gasses than a regular car. While the immediate cost of using alternative fuels may seem high, the long term costs can be almost nothing. Say you use solar energy for your house. The upfront cost can be anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000. But in the long run, you are paying next to nothing for energy costs. Some companies will even pay you to use your solar energy.

The standard car gets between 22 to 28 miles per gallon. But the standard hybrid car gets about 48 miles per gallon. The demand for petrol and diesel will keep growing drastically if alternative fuels for these are not found, which will lead in the raising of prices. The inflation rate is growing higher and higher due to the price of fuel.

Using alternative fuels will reduce the demand of petroleum fuels. The use of alternative fuel decreases the amount of pollution in the air. There are so many advantages to using alternative fuels for your vehicle. With a hybrid car, you get better gas mileage, saving money, and helping the environment.

Filed Under: Alternative Fuel Technology Tagged With: , , , ,

Facts About Hybrid Cars

A hybrid car uses an engine that combines two or more sources of power, usually gasoline and electricity. This is called a hybrid engine. Hybrid cars produce 90% less pollutants than non-hybrid cars. If all cars switched to hybrid engines, it could help the environment drastically. They do have some expensive parts, but they also have warranties for these parts that will replace them for free. They do not require any more maintenance than regular gasoline cars.

Hybrid cars are high in demand so their value is much greater than most gasoline vehicles. You can save over $500 a year in gasoline by switching to a hybrid vehicle. With a hybrid vehicle, there are so many options of power to choose from. It may range from hydrogen, solar, natural gas, and many others.

Most hybrid cars use gasoline as the primary source of their power, but they often switch to electric power also. Most hybrid cars do not require to be plugged in for charging. They charge themselves while in motion, usually by converting heat into energy. The battery pack as a whole is very expensive in these cars, but it comes with 38 modules. If one is not working, you just replace that one rather than the whole battery pack.

Hybrid cars have been around since 1902 when Ferdinand Porshe developed the ‘Mixite.’ Although, it was almost 95 years later in 1997 when the first commercial hybrid car came out as the ‘Toyota Prius.’ Many people think that hybrid cars will take over the automobile market within the next few decades. Hybrid cars are generally more expensive than regular gasoline cars, but federal and state tax credits are usually available. Many people say a hybrid car is expensive to maintain, however, there is a lot of warranty protection that covers most of the main parts for several years.

Filed Under: Fuel & Engine Technology Tagged With: , , , ,

The Challanges The Electric Car Has To Overcome Before It Appeals To Families

Peapod, Electric car
Image via Wikipedia

Electric cars have a phenomenally long way to go before they become a viable competitor of gas-powered cars. There are many challenges that these car developers have to face to even come close to what a gas-powered car or hybrid offers. Perhaps, one of the biggest challenges is their distinct lack of appeal to families.

Electric cars rely on the weight to battery ratio in order to propel the car forward. In order to achieve a family-friendly design, they have to offer more than a two door compact model. But this presents a major problem for the electric car. More space means more weight added to the car. Weight is a major factor in the electric car propulsion. A heavier electric car is harder to propel forward. Thus much of the battery power is used on overcoming the friction to move the car.

Another feature that detracts from its appeal to families is the lack of range. Batteries can only last for so long before they completely drain. This means the electric car can only go so far before it loses its power. Usually, this is a few hundred miles. Any trip longer than that is out due to a distinct lack of charging stations. At this time, it is impractical for a family to consider a long distance trip.

While these are the major features that stop families from purchase, it is also the lack of amenities that give electric cars a solid thumbs down. Everything from the DVD players, the GPS, and the cell phone chargers require battery power. Which in turn, drains the batteries even more than just straight driving. There is a long ways to go before the electric car will appeal to families. At the moment, it is far too impractical to add such an impractical vehicle to the family driveway.

Filed Under: Renewable Fuels Tagged With: , ,
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