Types of Alternative Fuels

With the rising cost of fuel many people are starting to question the different types of alternative fuels that are available to the public at large. Many people are surprised when they find out just how many different alternative fuels there are to choose from. You may find that some of the fuels are easier to access than others, and this can help you choose which alternative fuels, if any, you will begin using.

One of the most commonly used alternative fuels is often referred to as LPG, which is just a shortened version of liquefied petroleum gas. The fuel is actually not a liquid like we usually think of when we think of fuel, instead it is vapors at normal temperatures, though it will turn into a liquid at more moderate pressures and temperatures. The main ingredient of LPG is propane, a fuel source that most people are familiar with. The great thing about LPG is that it is widely available in most places, it is usually cheaper than gasoline, and it can even be safer than gasoline when used in cars that have the right type of tank for it.

Compressed natural gas is another of the types of alternative fuels that you might want to consider. Natural gas is not as readily available as many of the other types of fuels out there, but it can be considered. The problem with natural gas is that it has to be compressed about 200 time's atmospheric pressure. While this is not as readily available as some other fuel sources, it is becoming more and more widely available with many refilling stations cropping up all around the country.

Liquefied natural gas is another type of alternative fuel. Liquefied natural gas is known as LNG and is not as common as compressed natural gas because the cool temperatures at which it must be kept cause a transportation problem.  Despite the difficulty transporting it, LNG is becoming more and more well known and more widely used and it will become only more well known in the future as the process becomes more practiced.

You may have heard of M85 fuel in the past and this stands for methanol. This is essentially made from natural gas. Many find that M85 has some advantages because it is easier to transport than other natural gas fuels. M85 is only 85% methanol and is 15% unleaded fuel, which is where the name M85 came from. While there have been a lot of explorations into this alternative fuel, there is yet to be a widespread transport system developed for its distribution.

E85 is a growing alternative fuel supply. It is produced by fermenting biomass, usually corn or other feedstocks. This is a renewable resource and has a lot of people really excited because it is not only a renewable resource, it is also a much more affordable resource. E85 can be blended with any amount of gasoline, such as 15%. The renewable aspect of this fuel makes it very attractive and there are a growing number of stations that offer the E85 fuel from the special nozzles that it requires.

Biodiesel, also known as B20, is made from biomass. Because it is made from biomass it is a renewable resource. Biodiesel is not currently widely available, but there are many people who are working behind the scenes to make it more widely available in the future. This would be a more affordable fuel source in fact many people are already making their own fuel of this nature and using it in their vehicles.

Electricity is a growing fuel alternative. Electric fuel types are divided into two different classes which are battery and hybrid.  The hybrid versions are the most common and use electricity in conjunction with gasoline or another fuel source. These vehicles are becoming more and more common, with most of the big manufacturers offering at least one model.

As you can see, there are a lot of different types of alternative fuels for you to choose from. If you choose one of these fuel sources to use, you should be aware that you may have to make adjustments to your vehicle or buy a special vehicle to accommodate them. These alternative fuels may not only be less expensive, they may contribute a lot less to global warming.

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