What Alternative Energies Will the Future Bring?
As we progress further into the 21st century it seems that a lot is destined to change, already there are rapid technological advancements that have revolutionised the social and business sectors via the options available for communication. And as environmental issues such as green house gases, carbon emissions, and the dwindling fossil fuels continue to become prevalent it is more than likely that some other significant changes are going to come about in the not to distant future.
Already people are opting for greener lifestyle choices, such as cycling to work or using ecological settings on household appliances, and the search for viable renewable resources is gaining momentum every day. In the past decade agrifuels, gas, and flex-fuels have all become readily available providing increased environmental respect and affordability to many people. As mentioned previously the need for counter strategies against the green house effect and non-renewable energies is one that is becoming more apparent and as a result many car manufacturers such as Renault have already begun developing technology and products that work around these environmental issues including vehicles that make use of alternative energies.
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas): This blend of butane and propane has already proved to reduce pollutant gas emissions by up to 12%. Many countries across Europe are now promoting the use of this 'clean' fuel and adding incentives through significant tax advantages. Fundamentally they have made it the cheapest fuel available at the pump. In 2008 there were more than 150, 000 vehicles equipped to use LPG in France, and now LPG is available in more than 1 in every 7 service stations too. So this is effectively one of the only ecological fossil fuels that is easily accessible to consumers.
Agrifuels: Most commonly agrifuel is ethanol that is created by fermenting corn although other crops can be used as well such as sugar beet, sugarcane, and wheat. Engines that run on agrifuel are known to emit fewer greenhouse gases throughout their entire lifespan. Agrifuels can reduce carbon emissions by up to 70%, and because the ethanol is derived from plants, and is therefore renewable, this fuel is key in reducing our dependency on non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil. Not surprisingly vehicles that run on agrifuels have become widespread where it is easily produced. For example, in Brazil, the sugarcane capital, cars run on pure ethanol or ethanol and petrol blends; not only does this reduce the country's dependency on oil and its CO2 emissions but it is also working to stabilise the price of sugar.
Already people are opting for greener lifestyle choices, such as cycling to work or using ecological settings on household appliances, and the search for viable renewable resources is gaining momentum every day. In the past decade agrifuels, gas, and flex-fuels have all become readily available providing increased environmental respect and affordability to many people. As mentioned previously the need for counter strategies against the green house effect and non-renewable energies is one that is becoming more apparent and as a result many car manufacturers such as Renault have already begun developing technology and products that work around these environmental issues including vehicles that make use of alternative energies.
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas): This blend of butane and propane has already proved to reduce pollutant gas emissions by up to 12%. Many countries across Europe are now promoting the use of this 'clean' fuel and adding incentives through significant tax advantages. Fundamentally they have made it the cheapest fuel available at the pump. In 2008 there were more than 150, 000 vehicles equipped to use LPG in France, and now LPG is available in more than 1 in every 7 service stations too. So this is effectively one of the only ecological fossil fuels that is easily accessible to consumers.
Agrifuels: Most commonly agrifuel is ethanol that is created by fermenting corn although other crops can be used as well such as sugar beet, sugarcane, and wheat. Engines that run on agrifuel are known to emit fewer greenhouse gases throughout their entire lifespan. Agrifuels can reduce carbon emissions by up to 70%, and because the ethanol is derived from plants, and is therefore renewable, this fuel is key in reducing our dependency on non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil. Not surprisingly vehicles that run on agrifuels have become widespread where it is easily produced. For example, in Brazil, the sugarcane capital, cars run on pure ethanol or ethanol and petrol blends; not only does this reduce the country's dependency on oil and its CO2 emissions but it is also working to stabilise the price of sugar.