Is There a Feasible Alternative Fuel?

Josh Lauer

Professor Franklin

ENGL 299.02

18 June 20, 2007

Research Paper 1:

Is There A Feasible Alternative Fuel?

In this research paper I will explore the possibilities of four alternative fuels to gasoline. I am interested in this topic because I am an automotive major at Pittsburg State, and it is a topic that hits home with many people. I believe that gasoline is the best fuel by cost and availability. I intend to argue that the supposed alternatives are not feasible in today’s United States. I would also like to discover more about these alternatives that I have not yet been taught. I find this subject very interesting and would like to know more concerning it. Staying up to date on today and future cars will help me not only be a better consumer, but it will allow me to stay current and even look forward in the industry I will soon be a part of.

In this paper I will first define my idea of a feasible solution to today’s dependency on petroleum based fuels. After defining, I will continue to list some possible fuel solutions, to define what each of them are, and their possible sources. Then I will explain why an alternative fuel is needed, how much oil scientists believe is left on our planet, and which of the alternatives are readily available for use. Fourth, I will compare and contrast the most popular alternatives to gasoline, which currently are hybrid drive vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and E-85 (ethanol). To conclude I will argue which alternative fuel is the most feasible as well as its validity to be used as a replacement to gasoline, a supplement to gasoline, or if it is not possible to be used in the near future in the United States.

For years the world has been dependant on gasoline to provide efficient transportation and lubricant. Recently many have begun talks of alternative fuels as well as the depletion of the current supply of oil on Earth. For this reason I would like to find out if any of the proposed alternatives would be feasible. I have multiple criteria for determining whether or not a proposed fuel is in fact feasible. Said criteria being current availability, compatibility with current technology, infrastructure needs, and compare the efficiency ratings to the current ratings of gasoline engines. While exploring the current availability of a new fuel, I will find the current supply as well as production methods and refining requirements. This will help to show if the proposed alternative is close enough to gasoline’s availability, and if the alternative will be able to come close enough to the efficiency of gasoline for widespread use. Using these attributes to compare and contrast the fuels in question, I believe that I will find that there is not an alternative fuel that can lessen our dependency on oil products. I feel that gasoline engines are the most efficient mode of transportation and that alternative fuels are nothing more than just a pleasant thought.

The infrastructure of the United States is completely set up for the use of gasoline powered vehicles. It is said by the EPA (“Gas”) that the United States consumes around 150 billion gallons of gasoline in one year on average. The alternative fuel market is a very large up and coming venture that many fuel companies are battling for control in. I feel that until there is an absolute need for a change in fuel that the market will constantly favor, and continue to choose, gasoline products. This does not take away from the innovation and discovery currently going on, but alternative fuels are currently in the development stages that gasoline engines went through so many years ago. The must fight skeptics, start up costs, scrutiny of efficiency, as well as many other road bumps on the way to becoming a commonly used fuel. I am not arguing that none of these alternatives will ever make it to the fuel prominence of gasoline; I am saying that it is not feasible in the near future in today’s United States. This is why I argue that for today and the near future, gasoline will continue to dominate the fuel market. To become feasible an alternative fuel must be able to demonstrate a clear competitive edge against gasoline. Such a competitive edge I believe, should include environmental impact, cost per mile, safety, marketability, efficiency as well as reliability. All of these factors are what helps gasoline retain its stronghold on the marketplace of today. Until another fuel source can be identified, produced, and put to market that either is equal, comparable, or greater than gasoline in these attributes the American people are sure to be reluctant to change fuel sources. This is why I believe that the popularity of hybrid vehicles has begun to increase. A slight modification in current technology that provides a noticeable increase in fuel mileage is much easier for the public to adapt to than a complete change in vehicle make up and fuel in general.

This brings me to my first alternative to gasoline, the hybrid engine. Even though the hybrid engine is not an alternative fuel, its impact on gasoline consumption is far too great to be ignored while looking for alternative fuels. The hybrid engine couples the power produced by a small gasoline powered engine with the power produced by an electric motor in order to provide drive power to the wheels. Toyota Motor Company is credited with the first hybrid vehicle production with their introduction of the Prius in the 1999-2000 model-years (Future Cars). For this reason I will explain and use the Prius for my argument for hybrid vehicles. The Toyota Prius uses a 1.5 liter four cylinder gasoline powered engine in conjunction with two five hundred volt electric motors. One of the electric motors is used only to start the gasoline powered engine; such a large motor is used for this because it helps to make the starting and stopping of the engine much more seamless and less noticeable. The other electric motor provides full power to the wheels on its own from standstill until the vehicle reaches speeds of seven miles per hour. At that time the starting electric motor starts the gasoline powered motor and drive power is provided by both the large electric motor, as well as by the gasoline engine. This process allows for far less gasoline consumption while driving in the city atmosphere due to constant stops and starts. While the vehicle is at stand still, the gasoline engine stops and the vehicle is silent, the gasoline engine will not re-start until battery voltage has only thirty percent remaining or of course until the vehicle reaches said speed. As for highway driving, the Prius is nearly driven one hundred percent