Conduct research on at least three alternative fuels or alternative vehicles (i.e., propane fuel, hydrogen fuel, or hybrid vehicles) and post your findings, including the pros and cons of each fuel or vehicle type. During the unit, you should interact wit

Alternative Fuels

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Introduction

An alternative fuel is a substance, other than gasoline, that is of an advanced nature and is used in vehicles to help with engine combustion. These are substances that are considered either cheaper or much friendlier to the environment (Johnstone, Hascic & OECD, 2011). There are various alternative fuels. These include hydrogen, natural gas, and biodiesel.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is used as an alternative fuel. The pros and cons of this alternative fuel are several. The pros include the fact that it is abundant and at the same time, renewable. This is to mean that it cannot be exhausted. It is a clean source of fuel meaning that it saves the environment the cost of pollution. It also lacks toxicity. Lastly, it is very efficient and powerful enough to be used in spaceships. The cons are it is an expensive source of fuel, is difficult to transport compared to other fuels, it is expensive regarding cost efficiency while changing the fuel, storage is also a problem due to its low density, and it is difficult to keep it safe since it does not have a smell.

Natural gas

The pros of natural gas include its extensive use, therefore, available. It is found to burn efficiently. Other pros are that it has no waste matter coming from it, it provides job opportunities, and there is the availability of infrastructure through which it can be transported. The cons include it being an explosive fuel; it cannot be renewed therefore inefficient, after burning it leads to carbon dioxide emission, its liquefied form is dangerous on water and has methane concentration which is a greenhouse gas (DeGunther, 2009).

Biodiesel

The pros of biodiesel are it is considered as a safe fuel, it can run on an engine that is of a standard nature, it is a renewable energy source, there are fewer emissions of this energy and has increased lubrication nature. The cons are that it can be of a negative effect on the engine, its storage can lead to corrosion or clogging, and it has lower energy as compared to other sources of energy (Gay, 2012).

References

DeGunther, R. (2009). Alternative energy for dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Gay, K. (2012). Living green: The ultimate teen guide. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press.

Johnstone, N., Hascic, I., & Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2011). Invention and transfer of environmental technologies. Paris: OECD.