Any discussion of alternative fuels raises the question of what fuels are available—or might become available in the near future. What follows is an edited version of a list of alternative fuels compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center and other sources.

• Biodiesel is a renewable alternative fuel produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. Although pure biodiesel (or biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel) can be used to fuel diesel vehicles, providing emissions and safety benefits, it may also produce increased NOx emissions. It has physical properties similar to those of petroleum diesel. A blend of 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent petroleum diesel is currently accepted by all diesel engine manufacturers.
   
• Electricity can be used to power electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles directly from the power grid. Vehicles that run on electricity produce no tailpipe emissions. The only emissions that can be attributed to electricity are those generated in the production process at the power plant. Electricity is easily accessible for short-range driving.
   
• Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, is a renewable fuel primarily made from starch crops, like corn. E85—a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline—can be used in light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. Its usage results in a 20-percent reduction in miles per gallon over conventional gasoline. Nearly one-third of U.S. gasoline contains ethanol in a low-level blend to reduce air pollution.
   
• Hydrogen, the simplest and most abundant element in the universe, can be produced from fossil fuels and biomass and by electrolyzing water. Producing hydrogen with renewable energy and using it in fuel-cell vehicles holds the promise of virtually pollution-free transportation. Because hydrogen has a small amount of energy by volume compared with other fuels, storing sufficient quantities on a vehicle using currently available technology would require a tank larger than a typical car's trunk. Other primary problems at this time include the high cost of both the vehicles and the fuel.
   
• Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, can be used as an alternative fuel. The use of methanol has declined significantly since the early 1990s, and auto makers are no longer manufacturing vehicles that run on it. It is used in some heavy truck and bus applications, but is not widely available.
   
• Natural gas, a mixture of hydrocarbons, predominantly methane, is a domestically produced alternative fuel that can produce significantly fewer harmful emissions than gasoline or diesel when used in natural gas vehicles. It has a high octane rating and excellent properties for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. Although natural gas accounts for approximately one-quarter of the energy used in the United States, only about one-tenth of 1 percent is currently used for transportation fuel. It must be stored onboard a vehicle in either a compressed or liquefied state.
   
• Propane is the most commonly used alternative transportation fuel. Also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), it has a high energy density, giving propane vehicles good driving range. Propane has a high octane rating and excellent properties for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. Produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining, propane is non-toxic and presents no threat to soil, surface water, or groundwater.

Several other vehicle fuels are in the early stages of development, according to the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center. They include:

• Biobutanol, an alcohol that can be produced through processing of domestically grown crops, like corn and sugar beets. Like ethanol, it can be used in gasoline-powered internal combustion engines.
   
• Biogas, sometimes called swamp gas, landfill gas, or digester gas. Biogas is produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic matter such as animal manure, sewage, and municipal solid waste. After processing, it becomes a renewable substitute for natural gas and can be used to fuel natural gas vehicles. DOE says a 2007 report estimated that 12,000 vehicles are being fueled with upgraded biogas worldwide, with 70,000 biogas-fueled vehicles predicted by 2010.
   
• Biomass-to-liquids fuels, which are produced through the conversion of diverse biomass feedstocks into a range of liquid fuels. One major benefit of these fuels is their compatibility with existing vehicle technologies and fuel distribution systems: Biomass-derived gasoline and diesel could be transported through existing pipelines, dispensed at existing fueling stations, and used to fuel today's gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles.
   

Fischer-Tropsch diesel, which is made by converting gaseous hydrocarbons, like natural gas and gasified coal or biomass, into liquid fuel. Fischer-Tropsch diesel can be substituted directly for petroleum diesel to fuel diesel-powered vehicles without modification to the vehicle engine or fueling infrastructure.

source: http://dcvelocity.com/articles/?article_id=1411

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