As of today, there is an increasing pressure on fuel companies to come up with alternative fuel types before the fossil fuel resources in our world run out. This is why these companies are looking for alternative ways just to see if they can beat the clock. Aside from this, fuel prices are continuously rising almost every day, which is why it is only natural that consumers are also looking into the best fuels for their cars. That is why in this article, we are going to discuss some of the most popular types of fuel that you can use in your vehicle.
- Gasoline – Also known as gas, this is the most common fuel that is used for almost every car type. Considering that it has been readily available to the public ever since the early 1900s until today, gasoline is the most tried and tested car fuel in the world. Fuel manufacturers use a unique blend to create gasoline so that it could resist the liquid igniting too early. This is because gasoline is a quick lighting fuel that allows the car to achieve faster acceleration.
In the 1950s, oil refineries started to add detergent to the gasoline to clean out the car’s engine during use. This process became popular because it also added to the lifespan of some vehicles. In the 1970s, low-sulfur types of gasoline were introduced to the market, and it was created to preserve the catalyst of the more modern cars. However, because gasoline produces high levels of CO2 when they are burned, it is now considered an outdated fuel. The pollution, smog, and the increasing awareness of people about climate change forced fuel companies to create other fuel types. This resulted in the rising demands for biofuels, which is why most blends in America have about 10 percent of ethanol refiners in their gasoline.
- Diesel – This type of fuel is explicitly used for cars that have diesel engines. Diesel fuel tends to last longer on vehicles that need to cover longer distances or those that are often used, which is why it is commonly used by several transport vehicles. Vans, trains, boats, and trucks likely run on diesel engines and fuel.
While this type of fuel emits less carbon dioxide because it almost made with natural resources, it still emits nitrous oxide, which can even create smog. This is why experts are continuously studying biodiesel, where vegetable oil is one of the main ingredients.
- Liquified Petroleum – Also known as propane, liquified petroleum was once known as the unstable component of gasoline, and despite being one of the cleanest energy sources compared to other fuel types, it is scarce to see a car in the United States that is running on liquified petroleum. These types of vehicles are commonly used and found in hybrid vehicles in the United Kingdom.
The type of propane gas that you can see in Canada and the United States is not pure because they are usually mixed with butane, propylene, and ethane. Still, propane is an excellent source of energy when making BBQs and in the production industries. The use of liquified petroleum as car fuel will most likely increase in the near future because it is a cheaper alternative choice to diesel and standard gas.
- Bio-Diesel – As its name goes, bio-diesels are diesel alternatives that are made from natural resources such as palm oil, grapeseed, and sugar beet. Most of us probably heard about bio-diesels being used by large restaurant corporations. For example, McDonald’s in the United Kingdom processes the fat that came from their cooking fryers and uses it in their delivery trucks. But of course, cars and trucks that use a high percentage of biodiesel may need to undergo some major modifications. On the other hand, smaller cars that use smaller amounts of biodiesel can run smoothly with little-to-no required changes.
However, because palm-oil is sourced by deforestation, the excessive use of biodiesel can affect the environment in the long run. Plus, it is also more costly compared to traditional fuel sources.
- Ethanol – Ethanol is one of the well-known biofuels that is often used in combination with some of the fuels that are on this list. Ethanol is derived from corn, sugar cane, and barley plants, along with some other natural resources. While several cars can run on ethanol alone, it is still more common to see vehicles that use one of the mixtures of diesel and ethanol, or gasoline and ethanol. Ethanol fuel is considered to be one of the most sustainable energy sources, and it can be continuously used in the future compared to fossil fuels. Plus, it can help make vehicles more environmentally friendly.
- Compressed Natural Gas – This type of fuel is another environmentally-friendly alternative to the most significant fuel types. According to research, compressed natural gas produces 80 percent less harmful toxins. This is why this is an attractive alternative to the people who are looking to make cars greener. Compressed Natural Gas is slowly becoming popular in the market, especially to those green-conscious places. In fact, the state of California is one of the best-known sites that has implemented compressed natural gas filling stations across the state.
Compressed natural gas happens to be a domestic fuel source, and 98 percent of it is sourced and shipped from the United States. This type of gas is also considered to be one of the safest fuel options in the world because it has a minimal range of flammability, and it is less likely to cause spillages during transportation.