Gasoline is the most common fuel used for consumer transportation. Gasoline is refined from petroleum found deep beneath the Earth's surface. Unfortunately, petroleum is a fossil fuel and fossil fuels are a nonrenewable resource. Once the Earth's petroleum supply is gone, gasoline will no longer be available. In addition, the burning of fossil fuels pollutes the air and contributes to global warming. Thus, the need for alternative fuel sources is significant not only to ensure that transportation remains available but also to provide consumers with a more environmentally friendly way to travel.
E85
E85 is an alternative fuel that consists of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol. Ethanol is refined from starch, corn, sugarcane and other forms of plant matter into a renewable and environmentally safe fuel source. Although a vehicle may run on pure ethanol rather than gasoline, consumers can encounter problems starting and running ethanol powered vehicles in cold conditions. The addition of 15 percent gasoline to ethanol cures this problem. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, E85 costs less per gallon than gasoline and is available for purchase in more than 40 states and 1950 gas stations throughout the country.
Hydrogen
As of May 2010, no vehicles are available on the market that use hydrogen as an alternative fuel source. Prototypes are in development, however, that promise to provide consumers with fuel-efficient transportation using hydrogen, rather than gasoline, to power their vehicles. A hydrogen fuel cell within the vehicle combines hydrogen gas with oxygen from the environment to power an electric, rather than gasoline-powered, motor. Hydrogen-powered vehicles would produce no harmful emissions and require less maintenance than current gasoline-powered automobiles. Using hydrogen as a fuel source would also reduce America's dependence on the foreign oil market. For these reasons, hydrogen has the potential to be the alternative fuel of the future.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is obtained from refining vegetable oils or animal fats into a clean-burning fuel. Diesel-powered vehicles may run on pure biodiesel or a blend of diesel and biodiesel. Most vehicles, however, function better using a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel in a combination known as B20. Using 100 percent biodiesel as vehicle fuel--a formula known as B100--can present problems for consumers, such as much lower gas mileage and biological contamination of their vehicles' engines. B20 does not present these problems yet still provides benefits such as lower toxic emissions and improved engine lubrication.
Butanol
Butanol is commonly used as an industrial solvent but has potential an as alternative fuel source. This alcohol is created through bacterial fermentization and costs approximately $3 a gallon, as of 2010. In 2009, researchers at Ohio State University developed a method of producing butanol much more quickly. This method may eventually reduce the price of butanol--making it more attractive to consumers. In addition, butanol has a high energy content and would provide individuals with more miles per gallon than ethanol. The goal is to develop butanol into a alternative fuel that can be used in any gasoline-powered vehicle.
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