|
By Brian Afuang
THE days of cheap gas are over. Experts say that
unlike in the supply-driven oil crisis of the early ’70s that
raised global fuel prices, the present stratospheric hike is
demand-driven, where the economic growth in China and India results
in an unprecedented huge demand for oil, jacking up fuel prices in
the process. This means that unlike most significant fuel price
hikes in the past that were temporary—leveling off after a certain
period when supply stabilizes—the present increases are most
likely to be permanent.
So, where environmentalists have failed to
encourage consumers to curb their fuel use, gas prices at the pump
are forcing many to make lifestyle changes—like getting more
discretionary in driving patterns, discarding large SUVs in favor of
fuel-efficient compacts or even subcompacts, or considering vehicles
that use alternative fuels, in the process, becoming environmentally
conscientious as well. It’s not only saving the planet now, but
saving one’s wallet, too.
Here are some alternative sources of fuel auto
manufacturers are presently using for their vehicles, and some they
are looking into for the future.
Gasoline/electric hybrid
These are presently the most popular
alternative-fuel vehicles around. Hybrids are powered by an electric
motor and an internal combustion gas or diesel engine, the usage of
which power plant dictated by specific conditions. In low speeds or
low load conditions, the electric motor is used while the fuel
engine goes to work in high load conditions. When in use, the engine
also charges the electric motor, which in turn powers the car when
the engine is shut off (and thereby not burning any fuel). It’s
all very symbiotic.
The advantages of hybrids are its negligible
emission ratings and impressively efficient fuel consumption, plus
the fact manufacturers can fit the technology on existing models.
Among hybrid cars, Toyota has been the most
successful with its Prius model, the carmaker having sold more than
one million units since the model debuted in 1997. Since then, the
Prius’ hybrid system has found its way to other Toyota models, so
the company is now at the forefront of this green technology.
An off-shoot of hybrid is the plug-in hybrid
(which Toyota is also developing). Plug-in hybrids are similar to
hybrids but have larger battery packs that can be charged into
regular electrical outlets. At moderately low speeds, the hybrid
runs only on battery power, negating any need for gasoline.
Ethanol/Methanol
Vehicles powered by ethanol or methanol have
basically the same engines as those fueled by gasoline, with few
modifications only, making these fuels fairly easy to adapt. The
advantage of ethanol is that it has a renewable source as it is made
from corn or other grains, or even biomass waste. Methanol can be
derived from natural gas and biomass waste, and like ethanol, has a
high-octane content that produces only about half the emission of a
gasoline vehicle.
However, these alcohol fuels produce less energy
than gasoline so a shorter driving range is one of its drawbacks.
The good thing going for these fuels is that the raw materials
needed to produce them are virtually unlimited.
Among carmakers, Ford has been very active in
promoting ethanol-blended gasoline. Many Ford vehicles, including
the locally available Focus sedan, can run on either pure gasoline
or gasoline mixed with 10-percent ethanol—branded as E10.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
In the Philippines, Liquefied Petroleum Gas
(LPG) is presently the most widely used alternative fuel for
vehicles. Taking its cue from other countries, notably Japan and
other neighbors, the Philippines has taken to LPG as the fuel of
choice for taxicabs. The rising number of LPG filling stations has
greatly contributed to this fuel’s widespread use, and as such,
even private car owners seeking fuels cheaper than gasoline or
diesel, have embraced LPG-use.
Numerous LPG conversion kits sold in the market
propagate the use of this fuel further. Generally, LPG lowers
vehicle maintenance costs, emissions and fuel expenses.
Natural Gas
This fuel offers one of the most significant
reductions in emissions when compared against gas-fed engines. Used
either in compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas
form, both fuels are bulky and therefore require bigger storage
spaces. As a result, these are often combined with conventional gas
engines to extend its driving range. A number of manufacturers have
models that are intended for the mass market. Chevrolet and Ford
already have CNG vans and trucks for commercial use.
Electric
Production model electric vehicles have been
around for quite a while, and for a time were considered as the wave
of the future. These vehicles offer numerous advantages like zero
emissions, and low maintenance and operating costs. But the prices
of electric vehicles have been prohibitive, and coupled with a
limited range and lengthy recharging requirements, made them
unappealing to consumers.
Also, unless the electricity that’s used to
charge the batteries of these vehicles come from clean sources and
not from conventional coal-fed plants, then the supposed
environmental benefits derived from emission-free electric vehicles
are negated. The emission only gets moved away from a vehicle’s
tailpipe.
Lately, electric vehicles are getting longer
operating ranges, although most are still efficient only for
short-distance use.
Biofuel
Like alcohol fuels, biodiesel is produced from
renewable resources like soybeans or even used cooking oil.
Biodiesel does not contain petroleum, but it can be blended with
conventional diesel. The advantages of biodiesel are that it can be
used to fuel diesel engines without requiring major modifications,
is simple to produce and use, is biodegradable and nontoxic.
Biodiesel also results in substantial reduction
in unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter
compared to emissions from regular diesel fuel.
Touted by some as the most viable and expedient
way to address environmental and fuel-cost issues, the use of
biodiesel—like any fuel that’s derived from plants—impacts on
food production. Simply, crops that are supposed to feed people are
diverted to fuel cars.
Hydrogen
Major auto manufacturers like Honda and
Mercedes-Benz think hydrogen will power the cars of the future. Used
in the form of fuel cells, these cars are known as Fuel Cell
Vehicles (FCV).
FCVs do not pack an internal combustion engine
beneath its sheet metal. Instead, an FCV uses an electric motor to
power its wheels. This electric motor runs on electricity generated
by a fuel cell stack that uses hydrogen and oxygen as its energy
source. There are different methods on how a fuel cell stack creates
electricity, but generally speaking, it is the chemical reaction
between hydrogen and oxygen that makes it possible to produce
electrical power.
Think of it as the reverse of electrolysis,
where electrical current is used to separate water into hydrogen and
oxygen. In the fuel cell stack, it’s the chemical energy derived
from hydrogen and oxygen that’s converted into electrical energy,
and the only emission is water. Now how can anyone argue against a
vehicle whose tailpipe emits nothing but water vapors?
Presently, there are quite a number of FCVs from
major carmakers that are undergoing various types of testing. Honda
has turned over FCVs to the Los Angeles city government in the US as
early as 2002. And only last week, Honda has delivered its first
commercial FCV model—the FCX Clarity luxury sedan—to its first
customers.
The future is now.
|
