Fuel prices have risen in recent years due to depleting natural resources. Moreover, the ozone layer depletion has raised concerns over greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking of that, automotive manufacturers and government authorities across the globe have taken initiatives to use alternative fuels and transportation methods.
Alternative fuels are derived from sources other than fuel. Alternative fuel vehicles include electric, hybrid, and solar cars requiring less or no petrol. Moreover, alternative transportation methods such as buses, metros, and trams reduce the use of renewable energy as more people can travel in a single bus, train, or metro. And, with electric buses and metros, it becomes environmentally friendly too.
Let’s go through this complete list of alternative fuels and their advantages and disadvantages.
WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUEL?
Although there are different types of fuels in Dubai and across the world, alternative fuels are different. That said, alternative fuels are derived from sources other than petroleum or are a mixture of renewable and non-renewable resources.
Alternative fuels reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources. Moreover, it helps in clean emissions from cars. Therefore, it reduces environmental and natural resource scarcity concerns.
The following are some of the best alternative fuel types and importance of each of them to produce less or no carbon footprint from automobiles.
ETHANOL
Among different types of biofuels, ethanol is produced from corn or other plant materials. Ethanol as an alternative fuel source has the following pros and cons:
Pros
- Ethanol reduces the use of non-renewable resources.
- This type of fuel lowers carbon emissions from cars.
- It can be easily mixed with conventional fuel to be used in vehicles. (Currently, E85 and E10 are used in some countries. However, they are not available in the UAE).
Cons
- E85 and E10 fuels consist of 85% and 10% ethanol content, respectively, and are less efficient than conventional fuels.
- Ethanol fuel can impact food prices as it is derived from food crops.
- It is produced with farm equipment that uses diesel or petrol limiting its benefits.
Nonetheless, ethanol is an alternative fuel that comparably produces less carbon emission. Furthermore, it is efficient for the fuel systems of automobiles and marine transports with small engines. Besides, it is one of the boat maintenance tips that you use E10 or fuel with ethanol content in it to ensure that the fuel system works efficiently.
BIOFUEL
Another alternative source of fuel is biofuel, extracted from the plant, algae, or animal waste (feedstock). It is a renewable fuel resource and biofuels in the transportation industry come with the following advantages and disadvantages:
Pros
- It costs less than petrol.
- Biofuels are environmentally friendly as they produce fewer carbon emissions.
- It easily mixes with diesel to produce biodiesel.
Cons
- When biofuels are produced, they require the burning of fertilisers.
- Biofuels harm the environment if the process is not carried out properly.
- It costs much higher to produce biofuels.
- Production of biofuels can cause food shortages due to rising demands.
Nonetheless, the advantages of biofuels over fossil fuels are still significant. That said, if the proper process is carried out, preserving natural resources and environment concerns will become easy.
SOLAR ENERGY
Thanks to technological advancements, the first-ever production-ready solar car, Lightyear 0 is announced. The idea of powering a car with solar energy is still a new one with the following advantages and disadvantages:
Pros
- Solar cars produce no noise or air pollution.
- Solar cars save money on fuel as they run on electricity generated through solar panels.
- These cars are fine for places with mostly sunny weather.
Cons
- There are design constraints regarding fitting the solar panels.
- The limitation of solar panels to convert solar energy into electricity comes into play as these panels only convert solar energy into electrical at 25 to 30% efficiency.
That said, solar cars are still in the development phase and the first production-ready solar car marked the start of a new era in the automobile industry. Nonetheless, these cars will be a handful in the UAE where the weather is mostly sunny.
ELECTRICAL ENERGY
All electric cars, also known as battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid cars use electrical energy to power the vehicle. The main benefits and drawbacks of using an electric car as an alternative fuel vehicle are as followed:
Pros
- It produces no noise pollution or carbon emissions.
- EVs transfer instant torque from the electric motors.
- Home EV charging is also available via DEWA in Dubai and ADDC in Abu Dhabi.
- Cost-efficient compared to a conventional vehicle.
- Widespread charging infrastructure in Dubai and other emirates.
Cons
- EV charging station networks are still an issue in many places around the world.
- Long charging hours range from 2 to 4 hours for charging an electric car.
However, most of the disadvantages of using electric cars are covered by automobile manufacturers. That said, the availability of DEWA EV green chargers across Dubai provides electric car owners an opportunity to charge their vehicles anytime. Moreover, modern electric cars come with long ranges offering 350 to 550 kilometres of mileage when fully charged.
The only major disadvantage is the long charging hours. Speaking of that, some new electric cars such as Al Damani DMV 300 take only 30 minutes to charge from 20 to 80 percent. Also, ultra-fast chargers are available in different DEWA EV Green Charger types. Nonetheless, cars running on electrical energy are present and future.
P-SERIES FUEL
The P-series fuel is a mixture of ethanol, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrocarbon, and methyl tetrahydrofuran (MTHF). It is a type of alternative fuel that is a renewable product. Besides, it is a substitute for conventional fuel. The P-series fuel has the following benefits and drawbacks:
Pros
- P-series fuel provides good fuel efficiency.
- It reduces carbon emissions by producing less carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
- This type of alternative fuel also reduces nitrous oxide emissions.
Cons
- It’s rarely available.
- P-series fuel is highly flammable due to the presence of hydrocarbons.
- It can lead to high smog making it environmentally unfriendly.
HYDROGEN FUEL
Another alternative source of fuel is hydrogen which can be produced from both non-renewable and renewable resources. Hydrogen is used in fuel-cell electric vehicles. The fuel cell converts hydrogen into electricity to power the vehicle. The advantages and shortcomings of hydrogen fuel cell in cars are as followed:
Pros
- Fuel cell vehicles offer good mileage.
- Instant torque transfer is similar to an electric car.
- The fuel cell does not deteriorate in high temperatures.
Cons
- Its availability is a major concern.
- Loss of energy in electrolysis for power generation makes fuel-cell vehicles half as efficient as electric cars.
This wraps up our guide to the different types of alternative fuels for transportation. Auto manufacturers have considered design strategies for various alternative fuel vehicles. That said, electric and hybrid vehicles are already taking over conventional vehicles. Speaking of EVs and hybrids, you can find these latest alternative fuel vehicle models in the listings of used cars in the UAE.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s leading auto blog to learn more about new automotive technologies and systems.
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