If you’re trying to find the best and cheapest way to get from point A to B, then you probably want to know about the fuel rates. The price of fuels keeps fluctuating and fluctuating, so in order not be blindsided by the hefty prices at the pump, it would behoove you to track these things closely.
What Alternative Fuel Is?
Most of the world’s transportation is powered by one form or another of gas. However, in recent years, the demand for fuel has decreased significantly, as people have become more health conscious and are looking to reduce their carbon footprint. To combat this trend, manufacturers have begun to develop a number of alternative fuels with their replacements for traditional fuel:
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). CNG vehicles deposit their exhaust directly into the tank and use a card reader to pay for gas. The majority of CNG vehicles are heavy trucks that don’t use any gasoline based fuel.
CNG vehicles deposit their exhaust directly into the tank and use a card reader to pay for gas. The majority of CNG vehicles are heavy trucks that don’t use any gasoline based fuel. Compressed Ethanol (E85): This is a blend of ethanol and 85-92% of gasoline to create an octane rating and reach a compression rate suitable for the engine. The difference between E10 and E85 is that E85 can be used in all vehicles, while E10 is only applicable to flexible-fuel vehicles.
This is a blend of ethanol and 85-92% of gasoline to create an octane rating and reach a compression rate suitable for the engine. The difference between E10 and E85 is that E85 can be used in all vehicles, while E10 is only applicable to flexible-fuel vehicles. Biodiesel: Biodiesel is a vegetable oil that can be made from cutting cooking oils. The byproduct of biodiesel production can be used as a fuel or a lubricant.
Biodiesel is a vegetable oil that can be made from cutting cooking oils. The byproduct of biodiesel production can be used as a fuel or a lubricant. Hydrogen: Hydrogen is made from water and electricity; however, it can also be produced using biomass and natural gas. Electricity for hydrogen production is expensive, thus the price of hydrogen fluctuates widely because only high-end cars can use it.
Why Should I Use Alternative Fuel?
If you want to save money, then using alternative fuel is the way to go. The price of these fuels may be a little higher than traditional fuels in the short-term, but in the long run, it will cost you a lot less. If you’re thinking about buying a car that uses alternative fuel and you live in an urban area, then don’t worry about getting enough supply (or not), because different gas stations are building up their CNG and E85 supply regularly so that there won’t be any shortages.
Average Prices
On average, ethanol prices are higher than gasoline. In 2010, the price of ethanol was $2.67 per gallon and gasoline was $1.83 per gallon (US). Ethanol was more expensive than regular fuel in all 50 states except for Nevada where gas was more expensive at $3.68 per gallon (US) on average (US).
Ethanol has been made from corn since the early 1920’s. More recently, ethanol has been produced from other materials such as wheat and soybeans (US). The first plants to convert non-food crops into ethanol were built in the 1980’s (US).
The use of ethanol as a fuel is controversial. Ethanol was mandated as a gasoline additive by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This law has been controversial due to its potential impact on food prices and its negative impact on automobile engines (US) (ibid.). Some critics claim that growing enough corn to meet the law’s requirements could put an undue strain on agricultural resources (ibid.).
Final thoughts
You might think that alternative fuel is only for heavy duty vehicles, but there are numerous ways to get your car to use alternative fuel. The only way to know if you need a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) or using some other type of fuel is by asking the dealer to explain what it would take and how much it would cost. Otherwise, check out your local gas stations (trust me, they will tell you) and ask them what they have in stock and how much it costs. Remember, the best way to know if it’s worth it for you is for them to explain the benefits of each type of alternative fuel and their cost.