Fact File - Fuel & Transport
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Are biofuels the answer? |
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Because biofuels can be used in vehicles with little or no modification it is tempting to assume they are an ideal replacement for petrol or diesel. There is one major problem with biofuel: it is produced from crops.
We know how difficult it is to feed the world now; we know that one of the motivations for deforestation is to make way for crops. If we focus on crop-based fuel, we run the risk of sacrificing land and humans to the god of energy.
If the biofuel comes from reprocessed sources (e.g. chip fat) then that is a different matter, but chip fat alone will never be enough to satisfy demand.
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| 2. |
Can I run my car on chip fat? |
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Chip fat has indeed been used to run diesel cars (not petrol – you will break your car). However, it is not advisable to run your car on chip fat without processing the chip fat first.
The process involves several stages of purification and adding chemicals to break down the fatty acids. You then need to separate the biodiesel from another by-product, glycerine. It is then possible to use it in a diesel car with little or no modification – but always take professional advice on this, as not all cars are the same.
One further consideration is the ambient temperature. In winter, or when the weather is cold, it would be necessary to mix the biodiesel with diesel as biodiesel has a tendency to solidify in the cold.
Don't forget, biodiesel from chip fat is not exempt from fuel duty.
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| 3. |
What are hybrid cars? |
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Hybrid cars have two fuel sources. The most famous hybrid car, Toyota's Prius, runs a petrol engine, but also runs on electricity (generated from storing energy when the car is rolling or braking; it doesn't need to be plugged in). This kind of hybrid is known as a Petrol Electric Hybrid.
Other types include: Diesel Electric Hybrid and Petrol LPG Hybrid. In the UK many owners of 4X4s are converting their cars into hybrids by modifying their engines to run on LPG.
Toyota is not the only car manufacturer looking into hybrids. This looks like it's going to be a hot market in the next 10 years.
One important consideration with hybrid cars is that they need to store two energy sources: you need to have a petrol/diesel tank plus a bank of batteries or another fuel tank for LPG. You are unlikely to see a small hybrid car.
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| 4. |
Are there any tax benefits for having a hybrid car? |
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Indeed there are. You will benefit from lower road tax and be exempt from London's Congestion Charge. It all depends on your emissions, so make sure your hybrid's emissions are low enough to benefit from these tax breaks.
The Energy Saving Trust maintain lists of qualifying vehicles and approved companies for converting cars to hybrid: Energy Saving Trust CC List
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| 5. |
Can I run my car on LPG? |
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LPG (Liquefied Petrolium Gas) is readily available on Britain's forecourts, and there are a number of approved companies that are converting cars to run on LPG. You should be able to find one in your area.
At the moment, LPG is cheaper than petrol, but since LPG is still a fossil fuel, this may not necessarily stay this way. LPG emissions are lower than petrol, and about the same as diesel, but they are also more thirsty than petrol cars.
Overall, LPG vehicles currently cost about 40% less to run than petrol, so there are definitely financial benefits having LPG, even if it's not quite as green as one would hope.
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| 6. |
Other than Petrol and Diesel what other fuel technologies are being developed? |
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Around the world there are hundreds of research projects investigating the possibility of hydrogen and biomass fuels.
Biomass (biodiesel, ethanol) is gaining great currency, especially in the United States, because it is easy to produce and, more importantly, breaks dependency on Middle-Eastern Oil. A number of environmentalists has raised concerns over biomass fuels because they use land that might otherwise be used for food production, and if there isn't enough land, then forests may well be at risk.
Hydrogen cars have been around for a few years now, and most motor manufacturers are dabbling with it. However, hydrogen production is still expensive; researchers are still seeking ways to make its production commercially viable. But watch this space. |
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