Our energy hungry life style has be fueled by fuels - coal, oil and gas. These are running out and have environmental issues. We need to find alternative fuels in the future. Alternative methods for generating electricity are being developed along with electric cars, but there are also alternative fuels for cars etc. To do this we will need to assess their relative advantages and disadvantages: Identify whether the properties of the fuels are pro's (good) or con's (bad):
We need to find alternative fuels in the future. Alternative methods for generating electricity are being developed along with electric cars, but there are also alternative fuels for cars etc. To do this we will need to assess their relative advantages and disadvantages:
Identify whether the properties of the fuels are pro's (good) or con's (bad):
Takes electricity to split water to make hydrogen.
If we generate that electricity through renewable means then the hydrogen is renewable.
Hydrogen is a good way to store converted electrical energy.
Can be explosive in high concentration - not good in car crash.
In fact it is sometimes used in a mixture with petrol.
Ethanol consists of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen, so the products of combustion are: and Ethanol can be considered 'Carbon Neutral' because it only releases as much carbon dioxide as the plant took in during its life.
Ethanol can be considered 'Carbon Neutral' because it only releases as much carbon dioxide as the plant took in during its life.
The engines of cars need to be converted to run on pure ethanol.
There needs to be caution when swiching to plant based renewable fuels. In some areas of the world, farmers have switch to fuel crops and there isn't enough food being grown.
