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Solar energy is predicted to become the worlds dominant primary energy source and as time goes on, alternative fuels are predicted to more and more replace petroleum based products as motor transportation fuels. Alternative Fuels? Sooner or Later? What are the benefits for you? Millions of vehicles around the world already run on alternative fuels or alternate fuel and petroleum or diesel mixtures. A shift towards alternative fuels use is expected to grow exponentially in the next few years. The average consumer chooses alternative fuels to save money. It is estimated that around 60% of US oil production is consumed by cars and trucks. General concern that conventional fossil fuels, coal and refined oil products use is contributing to global warming has becoming a major political, social, environmental and economic issue around the world. It is driving a worldwide shift towards alternative fuel use in motor vehicles and in industrial and rural applications. Consumer concerns about rising fuel prices and the prediction that future demand for petroleum fuels will exceed the world’s oil supply is another driver for a change to more alternative fuels usage. Global warming and environmental concerns about exhaust discharges like nitrous oxide (NOX), carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter from petroleum and diesel fuels and concerns about the possible harmful effects on peoples health has also had a major influence on the levels of governments controls on emissions favoring a shift towards alternative fuels use. Many governments have already tightened pollution emission controls and some are requiring by legislation for certain percentages of alternative fuel to be in use by specified target dates within the next few years. Some of the alternate fuels now in everyday use are briefly described below. Papua New Guinea - Powered by Coconut On Bougainville Island, German emigrant engineer Mathias Horn and his wife Carol operate a factory pressing coconut oil from coconut husks. In tropical Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, straight coconut oil is now used instead of diesel for running cars, trucks and generators. “It costs 1/3rd less then diesel and my car runs smoothly on coconut oil.” said a local priest speaking to ABC Television’s Foreign Correspondence Program. “There are lots of coconuts available and coconut oil production is creating jobs in the local economy” said Mathias Horn. “Even the local police vehicles use it."” Mr Horn said. “Bougainville people enjoy the pure sweet aroma of coconuts and it doesn’t destroy the ozone layer.” he told ABC Reporter Steve Marshall. “The only problem is that the coconut oil solidifies below 25 degrees centigrade and you have to mix it with diesel at high altitudes.” he said. Brazil - Ethanol Drives 40% of Brazil’s Transport. Ethanol is produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops such as sugar, corn, barley and wheat. It is usually blended in the ratio 10%-20% ethanol to 80%-90% petrol or gasoline as a motor vehicle fuel. Using ethanol blended fuel, car drivers can expect about 15% less fuel economy relative to petrol. However, the benefits are lower CO and CO2 emissions and lower evaporative emissions than petrol and a higher octane rating suitable for high octane engines. A major benefit of ethanol blended fuel is that it saves mineral oil consumption. However, there is a limit to the extent food crops can be turned into ethanol and audits of agricultural capacity for ethanol production are needed in the overall equation worldwide. Canada - Biodiesel Popular as a Boiler Fuel For Heating People's Houses Biodiesel is made from crops such as soy beans, mustard seed and palm oil and from animal waste and vegetable oils and greases. When biodiesel is blended with diesel fuel derived from mineral oil sources, vehicle emissions can be significantly reduced. The US National Biodiesel Board estimates that a B20 diesel blend can reduce un-burned hydrocarbon automotive emissions by 20%, carbon dioxide emissions by 12% and particulate matter emissions by 12%. Engine performance using blended biodiesel is similar to when using straight diesel fuel whilst engine lubricity is improved. However, deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia for palm oil bio-diesel production is a major issue to be managed. Strict limits now need to be placed on further rain forest and biological destruction experts say. Clearing rain forests around the world for crop production or alternative fuel production is the wrong way to go UN experts say. Rather than diverting good agricultural land away from staple food production crops to grow more profitable fuel production crops, marginal land alongside roads and railway tracks, could easily be utilised to produce oil rich palms and nuts for bio-diesel production some analysts say. Australia - Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Widely Used As a Clean Cooking Gas Gas fired barbeques are popular in Australia. Propane auto fuel is also widely used in Australian taxis and other light high mileage vehicles as a cheaper alternative to petrol or gasoline. Around 10 million LPG fuelled vehicles now operate worldwide. This fuel is also used extensively in off-road vehicles, fork lifts and loaders and indoor use vehicles and one advantage is the extended maintenance intervals in LPG vehicles. Vehicles running on LPG show 60% less CO and Nox and 98% less toxic emissions than regular petroleum fuels. Japan - Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) - Japan World's Largest Importer of LNG Australia is a major exporter to China, Japan and South Korea. Liquefied Natural Gas is mainly used in buses and heavy road transport vehicles and has lower emissions than bi-fuel vehicles. Advantages with LNG are lower harmful nitrous oxides and lower particulate emissions and less carcinogenic and toxic pollutants. This means lower greenhouse gases are emitted when using LNG fuel. USA - Electric Powered Vehicles - A New Breed is Coming Electric trains, trams and trolley buses are commonplace around the world. Low polluting plug-in electric battery powered road vehicles have been around for a long time. However, a new breed of plug in hybrid lithium-ion battery electric vehicles are soon expected to become a standard option in the US automotive industry. Japan & USA - Hybrid Cars - 20% of Japanese Cars Are Now Hybrids Petroleum electric vehicles are produced in Japan and USA. Improved fuel efficiency cars, trucks and other combustion engines clearly use less fuel and produce less pollutants than their equivalent conventional models. A hybrid vehicle has two energy sources, a normal engine system and an electric/motor/generator/battery system. Both systems combine together for improved efficiency and lower fuel consumption. Hybrid cars include Toyota’s ‘Prius’ and ‘Camry Hybrid’, Ford’s ‘Escape Hybrid’ and Honda’s ‘Insight’. United Kingdom - Scrubbing Ship Exhausts Compared to road and air, sea transport is an energy efficient means of moving huge volumes of freight. Low grade, heavy, poor quality oil powers much of the world’s deep sea shipping fleets. Poor fuel burnt in marine diesel engines exhausts a cocktail of nasty emissions into the atmosphere including particulate matter, carbon oxides and volatile organic compounds. Experts estimate that seagoing ships exhausts now emit up to 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. New European Union legislation will require strict emission monitoring standards for ships in Port from 2010. How to comply has posed new challenges for ship operators. Necessity is the mother of invention and the good old Lloyds Register of Shipping has come up with a model for the accurate measurement of ship exhausts. The Kystallon Company of Littlehampton, England then produced a ship’s exhaust scrubber which it claims removes up to 95% of the nasties from ship exhausts after trials on the P&O Cross Channel Ferry “Pride of Kent”. East or West – Scrubbing Ships Exhausts is the Best. Professor Dr Nishida of Japan’s Kobe University speaking at a lecture in London described a solution being developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan. “The solution included a fuel water injection system for ships diesel engines and sea water electrolysis and scrubber units.” said Dr. Nishida. “A new generation of ocean going ships now on the drawing boards will burn a variety of heavy residual fuels with zero or next to zero emissions.” said Thomas Knudsen, Vice President of the MAN Diesel Company writing in the Marine Engineers Review. East or West - Scrubbing ships exhausts is best ............ For You
This Months Fuel Saving Tips from the US Dept of Energy Driving - Aggressive driving, speeding, accelerating and braking can reduce fuel mileage by 5% around town or 33% on the highway.
Sensible driving saves you ............ 5%-33%. - Driving within the speed limit saves. Speeding costs you ............ 7%-23%.
- Remove excess weight. An extra 45kg (100lbs) costs you ............ 1%-2%.
- Excessive idling wastes fuel.
- Cruise Control helps you save fuel.
- Using overdrive also saves fuel.
Maintenance - An engine tune-up averages fuel savings of ............ 4%.
- Clogged filters can cost you up to ........... 10%
- Under inflated tires cost you up to ............ 3%.
- Not using the manufacturers recommended grade of lubricating oil is not advised. Using a heavier grade of oil costs you ............ 1%-2%.
In total, sensibly driving a well maintained vehicle could save you over 30% more fuel than aggressively driving a poorly maintained vehicle.
Choose a More Efficient Vehicle - It Could Save Your Hard Earned $$$'s When choosing another vehicle, do compare the efficiency of different makes and models. Do consider buying a hybrid car or commercial vehicle.
Robert's Questions & Answers Q..Can used fryer and griller grease be re-cycled into biodiesel?
A… Discarded restaurant cooking oil, animal and vegetable fats and grease are primary sources of materials for biodiesel production. Q… What is the power ratio of LPG compared to petrol?
A…Around 75% Q… When can we expect smoke and fumes from trucks and buses to stop as it is affecting my health?
A… When emission control legislation comes into force and effective emission control technology is installed in the offending vehicles. Unhealthy NOX and particulate matter emitted from trucks and buses is expected to drop by at least 90%, after implementation of new emission rules, and poorly maintained engines will have to go. Q… What can I do about my neighbor waking me up mowing his lawn with a noisy motor mower on Sunday mornings?
A… Buy a quiet solar powered lawn mower for yourself. Lend it to your neighbor on Sundays and show him how much fuel he would save if he bought one himself!
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