Posts Tagged ‘alternative fuels’

The Alternative Fuels Data Center

Alternative Fuels | Posted by Admin March 12th, 2009

Recognizing that alternative fuels are taking our world by storm, the United States Department of Energy has set up a website called the Alternative Fuel Data Center.  This website is a huge collection of information on alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.  Basically, the Alternative Fuel Data Center has just about everything you ever wanted to know about alternative fuel.

The alternative fuel data center described those fuels defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992.  That includes bio-diesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane.  The site contains more than 3,000 documents in its database.  It also provides an interactive fuel station mapping system, current listings of available alternative fuel vehicles, and lots of alternative fuels information and related links.
The Alternative Fuel Data Center was developed in 1991 in response to the Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988 and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Since that time, the Alternative Fuel Data Center has provided key information in support of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the Clean Cities portfolio.
With the growing popularity of alternative fuels taking over the automotive industry, the Federal government knew that there would be millions of people with questions about these new products.  They wanted to be sure that Americans could get easy answers to the questions that they would have which is why they set up the Alternative Fuel Data Center website – to meet those needs.

There is so much information on the Alternative Fuel Data Center website, it would take forever to see and read it all.  But some highlights include the following:

* Toolkits that help coalitions and stakeholders reach their petroleum displacement goals.  These toolkits contain technical information, step-by-step instructions, and more to point the user in the right direction towards the use of alternative fuels.
* Education resources for teachers and students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.  That includes activities, workbooks, even competitions to increase their awareness of alternative fuels and how they can help the environment.
* Links to alternative fuel training site where mechanics can learn how to maintain and repair an alternative fuel vehicle.  This section lists various places that provide the training needed to become a certified alternative fuel vehicle mechanic.

But that’s just a sampling of all the information you can find on the Alternative Fuel Data Center website.  There really is a lot of great information here, so check them out online at www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/.

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Fuel Cell Technologies

Alternative Fuels | Posted by Admin March 12th, 2009

There are several types of fuel cells that have been developed with emerging technologies in the alternative fuel industry.  Fuel cells convert energy like hydrogen into electricity providing a cleaner burning fuel that emits no pollution into the air.  Fuel cell technologies have proven to be life-changing for many people – and the world as well.  With the development of a part that can power a car with little to no emissions will help the environment and reduce global warming.

A polymer exchange membrane fuel cell was developed through technologies that are endorsed by the Department of Energy.  The DOE is focusing on the PEMFC as the most likely candidate for transportation applications.  This type of fuel cell has a higher power density and a relatively low operating temperature (140 – 176 degrees Fahrenheit.  The low operating temperature of this fuel cell means that it doesn’t take very long for the fuel cell to warm up and begin generating electricity.

Most of the fuel cell technologies being explored today are based on using hydrogen as the main fuel source.  With the PEMFC, that is the case.  It is the most prominent type of fuel cell that is currently being looked at to be used in alternative fuel vehicles.

There is also a direct methanol fuel cell that compares with the PEMFC as far as its operating temperature.  However, these fuel cells aren’t as efficient.  Another disadvantage to this fuel cell is that it requires a large amount of platinum to act as a catalyst.  That alone makes it very expensive to run.  We’re sure, however, that emerging technologies in the fuel cell market will improve on this and make it more cost efficient for the average consumer.

One problem with fuel cells that technology has yet to solve is that they are expensive to make.  Many of the components of a fuel cell are expensive thus making the whole fuel cell costly.  In order to be competitively priced (compared to gasoline-powered vehicles), fuel cell systems must cost $35 per kilowatt. Currently, the projected high-volume production price is $110 per kilowatt.

Another problem with fuel cell technologies is that they have yet to be converted enough to allow them to operate in various weather conditions.  The membranes must be hydrated in order to transfer hydrogen protons.  Therefore, researches must find a way to develop fuel cell systems that can continue to operate in sub-zero temperatures, low humidity environments and high operating temperatures. At around 80 degrees Celsius, hydration is lost without a high-pressure hydration system.

Hybrid vehicles bridge this gap and allow the gasoline engine to kick in when conditions aren’t right for the fuel cell to operate efficiently. These hybrids still emit hazardous gases, but are a vast improvement over vehicles which relies solely on fossil fuels for their power.

Fuel cell technologies are emerging and becoming more and more in-depth every day.  Before long, we’ll have a great alternative to the gasoline powered car just with these tiny fuel cells.

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Alternative Fuels Overview

Alternative Fuels | Posted by Admin March 12th, 2009

Right now in the United States, there is a huge push for people to use alternative fuels as opposed to gasoline.  There are many reasons for this push.  Generally, it’s because alternative fuels are kinder to the environment and can help to combat the ever-growing problem of global warming.

The price of driving a car is rising at an alarming rate.  It has become very expensive to drive a car, so people are looking out for ways to save money on their fuel.  Scientists are developing alternative fuels that can help not only the environment, but also the consumer’s checkbook.  The new alternative fuels offer advantages in so many ways that people are really starting to take a look at these as an option over paying astronomical gasoline prices.

When consumers use alternative fuels both to gas up their car as well as heat and cool their homes, they are helping the environment as well as helping themselves.  The toxins that are released into the air when we burn gasoline and other fuels have shown to contribute to global warming and before we know it, winter will be as warm as summer.

In the simplest form, an alternative fuel is one that is not produced by using crude oil.  They are simply fuels that replace conventional gasoline as a means of powering vehicles.  Alternative fuels have desirable energy efficiency and pollution reduction features. The 1990 Clean Air Act encourages development and sale of alternative fuels.

There are many different kinds of alternative fuels – the most prominent one as well as the one that has been around the longest is ethanol.  Ethanol is made from corn which is a great help to our farmers as well as to consumers and the environment.  Ethanol is sometimes called grain alcohol.  It can also be made from organic materials including agricultural crops and waste, plant material left from logging, and trash including paper.

The alcohol found in alcoholic beverages is ethanol. However, the ethanol used for motor fuel is denatured, which means poison has been added so people can’t drink it. Some people believe that producing ethanol takes more energy than it gives back and for the most part, this is true.  However, technologies have evolved in such a way that it is possible to increase the efficiency of producing ethanol.

The growing trend toward alternative fuels will probably grow as we become more and more conscious of how we are damaging our environment through our habits and products we use.  New alternative fuels are being developed all the time and having a choice will certainly be a nice alternative itself.

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