Alternative Fuel Sources – Part One – Overview

by Darren

The hunt for alternative fuel sources is on. Gasoline is at a record price, and the economic pressure is forcing almost everyone to take a good, hard look at alternatives. This series of articles is designed at shedding some light on the issue of what alternatives to gasoline are out there, and which ones could eventually break the grip of the dominance of oil.

We’ll look at each of the emerging alternative fuel technologies (replacements for the common gas-powered engine):

• Diesel
• Biodiesel
• E85
• Oil shale
• Coal to Liquid
• Hydrogen

Any alternative fuel technology will have some pretty steep requirements in order to help mankind transition into a greener future.

1. The fuel will need to be clean, as near to zero greenhouse gas emissions as possible.
2. The fuel must be affordable and abundant
3. Society must be have a way to transition to the new fuel
4. The will of leadership to succeed

In order to switch billions of consumers from gas powered engines to alternative fuel engines will require a seismic shift in people’s thinking. Without a strong will from both the business and political sector, this shift can not possibly occur.

Continued in: Alternative Fuel Sources – Part Two – Diesel