Because of a combination of factors including environmental concerns and high gas prices, the development of alternative ways to power a car are becoming increasingly important. Cars are traditionally fueled by petroleum oil. However, scientists and engineers have been developing other power options, paving the way for alternative fuel. Alternative ways to fuel cars of the future include using electricity, hydraulic hybrids and biodiesel power.
Automobile companies and engineers are developing cleaner, sustainable alternatives to petroleum-fueled cars. One of these options is electricity. Electric vehicles, also called EVs, use electricity stored from batteries. According to Transportation Energy's website, 12 or 24 batteries are needed to power an electric vehicle. Cars powered by electricity are also aerodynamic. As a result of low air resistance, less energy is used to power the car at highway speeds. Electricity-powered cars are not the only vehicles to benefit from this green alternative. Large cities often choose to power buses, light-rails and subways by using electricity.
Hydraulic hybrids are another alternative power option. These cars are ultimately powered by pressure and nitrogen gas. Hydraulic hybrids use fluid stored in a low-pressure reservoir by pumping it into a high-pressure accumulator. This accumulator also holds nitrogen gas, which it sends directly to the driveshaft. This motion allows the car to accelerate. An efficient alternative, hydraulic hybrids work best with low-speed city driving rather than highway driving.
An innovative option for powering cars, biodiesel is a renewable fuel for diesel engines. Biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils such as canola oil or from animal fats. A sustainable alternative, biodiesel-powered cars are nontoxic and biodegradable. This alternative also seeks to reduce our dependence on petroleum oil and reduce carbon emissions. According to Biodiesel.org, using biodiesel reduces hazardous waste production by 96 percent compared to petroleum oil.
