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Alternative fuels
Alternative fuels fall into two broad categories:
- The total departure from carbon-based fuels. Electricity is the only option that falls under this definition.
- Carbon-based compounds that can used on their own or mixed with conventional gasoline to reduce emissions. These include
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Ethanol
See the figure below for a complete picture of how ethanol-blended fuels cut greenhouse gases from tailpipe emissions. (Click image to enlarge)
Many automobile manufacturers are now making alternative fuel vehicles (AFV's). Available in Canada, they are designed to run on E85 ethanol - 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, also known as high-level blends. Flexible-fuel E85 vehicles can use E85, gasoline or any mixture of the two.
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Biodiesel
Vegetable oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and even old fryer oil from restaurants are used to make biodiesel fuels. For use in diesel engines, they can be used in pure state or be blended with conventional diesel fuel derived from petroleum. Research indicates that 20% biodiesel to 80% conventional diesel is the best mixture for reducing emissions and engine wear, while maximizing performance.
Interest in biodiesel is growing particularly where workers - especially mechanics - are exposed to diesel exhaust on a daily basis. Construction vehicles, buses, trucks and other large machinery use diesel. Biodiesel is already used widely in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and Brazil to power bus fleets.
Biodiesel has low aquatic toxicity and biodegrades in 30 days, making it an excellent alternative fuel choice for boats.
Other benefits include:
- reduced carbon monoxide, particulate matter and hydrocarbon emissions
- when mixed, accelerates the biodegradation of diesel fuel
- reduces engine wear and noise
- the safest fuel to handle and store
- a renewable resource, creates new market potential for Manitoban farmers
- reuses waste products from the food service industry
- exhaust that smells like french fries, popcorn and doughnuts!
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Natural Gas
Natural Gas is a fossil fuel that consists of 90% methane. Emissions from natural gas vehicles (NGV) are mostly unburned methane. As such, it does not contribute to the formation of photochemical pollution (smog). Methane is also a greenhouse gas, but well-maintained NGV's release fewer total emissions because of fuel system design.
Other benefits include:
- superior emissions performance than gasoline or diesel - combustion releases almost no particulate matter emissions
- sealed fuel system of NGV's prevents evaporative and running loss emissions
- contains fewer toxic contaminants - such as 1, 3 butadiene, arsenic and benzene - than other fossil fuels
- Canada is rich in natural gas, creating jobs and profits
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Propane
Propane or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) consists mainly of propane, propylene, butane and butylene in various mixtures (1). Much of Winnipeg's taxi fleet that are not hybrids, operate on propane. It is the most publicly accessible alternative fuel.
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Methanol
Methanol is another alcohol-based fuel, which is derived from natural gas.
