Alternative Power Sources
For transportation
By: Jordan Brown
The Problem
Human beings have developed a variety of methods of
transportation, almost all of which rely on fossil fuels for
power.
Unfortunately, burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases,
causing climate change and poisoning the atmosphere.
Coal is a common fossil fuel
Fossil Fuel
Nitrous Oxide
Carbon Dioxide
Fossil fuels are combinations of Carbon and Hydrogen into
molecules that when burned, release greenhouse gases into the air.
Greenhouse gases can be, among other things, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon
Monoxide, and Nitrous Oxides. (Enzler, n.d.)
The Alternatives
In order to avoid destroying the atmosphere and the world over
time, scientists have been developing alternative energy sources to
power our transportation.
So far, there is three promising alternative power sources.
Hydrogen power, Ethanol, and Electric or Hybrid cars.
Hydrogen Power
Hydrogen power is a theory for a power sourced that is gotten by
burning hydrogen.
Hydrogen is one of few fuel sources that can be used without
producing any harmful emissions. This solves the major problem of
fossil fuels, but is it a viable option for replacement?
Hydrogen Power
Several automotive manufacturers have tested out using hydrogen
power in their vehicles.
Hyundai has made a hydrogen powered vehicle capable of
travelling 365 miles on a fuel cell, and Toyota has made one
capable of 435 miles.(Fairley, 2012)
Hydrogen Power
The obstacles for hydrogen power lie mainly in the cost.Hydrogen
itself is expensive, but we would also require all new distribution
facilities to get the hydrogen to the cars.
After some research in the early 2000s, hydrogen cars were given
up as inefficient and expensive. Without significant improvement,
the technology will not replace fossil fuel.
Ethanol Fuel
The second promising alternative to fossil fuels is ethanol.
Ethanol isn't so much an alternative, as it is a much more
environmentally version of what we already have.
Ethanol is made by distilling starch crops such as corn. When
mixed with 15 percent gasoline, it forms E85, an ethanol based
fuel. (U.S.D.O.E., n.d.)
Ethanol Fuel
Ethanol is a good fuel source because it can be produced
domestically in North America, and pretty much anywhere else in the
world, reducing our dependency on the Middle East for fuel. E85 is
also much better for the environment than fossil fuels, and while
it doesn't have zero emissions, like hydrogen, it would still be a
significant step in the right direction.
Barack Obama, the president of the United States, supports
ethanol as a fuel source.
Ethanol Fuel
The drawbacks of Ethanol once again lie in the cost. E85 is
currently very expensive to produce, and since it has a lower
energy content to volume ratio than fossil fuel, a tank of E85
won't get you nearly as far as a tank of 100 percent gasoline.
(U.S.D.O.E., n.d.)
Due to the extremely high cost, and less than stellar
environmental impact, ethanol will probably not replace fossil
fuels any time soon.
Electric Vehicles
The third, and perhaps most promising advance in alternative
energy for transportation has been the electric car.
Electric cars are already very common on highways today, since
they don't require any extravagant fuelling stations, you can
currently get electricity almost anywhere.
Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles have the advantage of producing no tail pipe
emissions. Since the atmosphere is becoming such a large
environmental concern, lowering greenhouse gas emissions is a
fantastic benefit to electric cars.
They also have the benefit of using 75% of the power generated
by electricity. An average gasoline powered car only uses 20% of
the power from burning gasoline (Goertz, n.d.).
Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are already a very popular alternative to
fossil fuel powered vehicles. There are some drawbacks, such as a
long charging time and a low range, but despite this, the electric
car has become standard.
Given time and sufficient technological development, electric
cars could come to outnumber, and eventually replace fossil fuel
driven cars, and the environment will be better for it.
Reference List
Enzler, S.M. (n.d.) Fossil fuels. Retrieved from
www.lenntech.com/greenhouse-effect/fossil-fuels.htmFairley, Peter.
(2012). Hydrogen cars: A dream that won't die. Retrieved from
www.technologyreview.com/news/429495/hydrogen-
cars-a-dream-that-wont-die/Goertz, Joe. (n.d.) The benefits of
electric vehicles. Retrieved from emissionfreecars.com/article/The-
Benefits-Of-Electric-Vehicles/296058/
