Burns cleanly in the car engine

1
METHANOL

• Burns cleanly in the car engine
• Combustion is more complete so less unwanted
  emissions produced
• Doesnt release aromatic hydrocarbons
• High octane number less likely to auto-ignite
• Less volatile than petrol
• Less likely to explode in a collision

• Engines and pumps would only have to be changed
  slightly and
• Its CHEAP !!!!!

2
..However

• It is hard to get petrol and methanol to mix
• This means a co-solvent has to be used
• Methanol is toxic - if exposed to it for a long
  time it can cause blindness and brain damage

• One litre of methanol produces about 40 less
  energy than 1 litre of petrol would

• So, larger and heavier fuel tanks are then
  required and filling the vehicle up would be a
  more frequent job

3
ETHANOL

• Like Methanol it has a high octane number
• It is believed to be less polluting
• It can be obtained from more than one source
  (ethene-formed from cracking naptha, or a
  non-renewable source-fermentation of cane sugar
  juice)
• When burnt, it procuces less CO(g), SO(g) and
  NO(g) than petrol
• Un-burnt ethanol doesnt produce as much
  photochemical smog than hydrocarbons
• Adds less to the greenhouse effect because the
  carbon dioxide it does produce is than absorbed
  by the new cane sugar

4
..However

• When the price of oil drops there are problems
  because ethanol obtained from fermentation is
  less competitive
• Large amounts of energy are needed to grow the
  crop
• People are beginning to doubt the efficiency of
  this process

?
5
Hydrogen

• Water is believed to be a plentiful source of
  hydrogen
• If it could be extracted from water
  (electrolysis) without using fossil fuels it
  would reduce dependence on them and so help
  reduce levels of CO2 released
• Could be distributed in the same way as we
  distribute natural gas today

• Could be burned as a heating fuel
• Used in internal combustion engines
• or converted into electricity in a fuel cell
• Can be stored
• May be cheaper than transmitting energy

6
..However

• A large amount of hydrogen gas is needed in
  order to travel the same distance as would be
  required when using a fuel tank of petrol
• Like with all alternative fuels it depends
• on long-term and large-scale investments in
  new infrastructures, and so success depends on
  political and economic factors

7
Biofuels

• Produced from organic materials, either directly
  from plants or indirectly from industrial,
  commercial, domestic or agricultural products
• Producing energy from biomass has both
  environmental and economic advantages
• Most cost-effective when a local fuel source is
  used, which results in local investment and
  employment

Hi ho, Hi ho, its off to work we go