Is independence from oil a possibility in the next 10 years?

1. Is independence from oil a possibility in the next 10 years? Is the answer Hydrogen Fuel cells, Ethanol, Biodiesel, Electricity, or Horse and Buggy? Andrew Jones - Mercer School of Engineering EGR-108 Dr. Davis

2. The pros and cons of alternate fuel. Electricity Hydrogen Fuel Cell Biodiesel Ethanol Horse and Buggy End Show References Click on buttons to find more information Andrew Jones - Mercer School of Engineering EGR-108 Dr. Davis

3. Hydrogen Fuel Cell • Hydrogen fuel cell prototype cars are beginning to be leased to a small number of people in southern California and the Chicago area. • Hydrogen fuel cell cars have a low range of about 300 miles between fill-ups. With a low number of filling stations available this makes them unpractical for long trips. • Due to a low volume of cars being produced the price per car is very high. • Hydrogen cars are very quiet and have no harmful tail-pipe emissions. • Manufacturing processes use many fossil fuels to produce hydrogen fuel. The Chevrolet Sequel is hydrogen powered but one could never tell from its apperance. Main Menu Andrew Jones - Mercer School of Engineering EGR-108 Dr. Davis

4. Ethanol • Major corporations such as Boeing have plans to incorporate Ethanol into their jet fuel. • Air Force is sponsoring research into a way to make the necessary oils, for ethanol production, from algae and cyanobacteria. • The chemistry is not complex behind ethanol. It is simply the moonshine that has been made in Appalachia for decades. • The production of ethanol requires many fossil fuels. To be truly “Greener” ethanol production needs to become less dependent on fossil fuels. • Due to its lower octane rating many gasoline powered engines do not run smoothly on ethanol with out modifications. Main Menu Andrew Jones - Mercer School of Engineering EGR-108 Dr. Davis

5. Electric Cars • Electric cars are very quiet. • Electric cars have many of the standard features that you would find on a gasoline powered car. • The performance of electric cars is approximately the same as it is for gas powered cars. Electric cars often accelerate faster than gasoline cars, but gasoline cars often have a higher top speed. • Electric vehicles are very reliable. The main downfall is that the batteries only last up to 4 years or 40,000 miles. • Electric cars can loose up to 20% of their range if the air conditioner is on. • With the addition of fusible links and circuit breakers electric cars are very safe, but if the batteries were to be damaged in a crash the battery acid could cause a health hazard. GM’s new electric concept car the Volt Main Menu Andrew Jones - Mercer School of Engineering EGR-108 Dr. Davis

6. Biodiesel • Biodiesel is rapidly gaining in popularity across the world. • Biodiesel is made from commonly found oils such as soybean oil and used cooking oil. • Biodiesel can be used in any diesel powered vehicle with very few adjustments. • One draw back for biodiesel is that when it is used in a motor that has run on fossil fuel based diesel it cleans particulate matter from the fuel lines causing the fuel filter to need to be replaced. • Although biodiesel is not perfect it does reduce tailpipe emissions of carbon monoxide, particulates, and hydrocarbons. Main Menu Andrew Jones - Mercer School of Engineering EGR-108 Dr. Davis

7. Horse and Buggy • Although this would be interesting, many believe it would be a step in the wrong direction. • Sometimes with all the problems in today’s technology one could only wish it were as simple as water and grass. Main Menu Andrew Jones - Mercer School of Engineering EGR-108 Dr. Davis

8. References • Air Force Office of Scientific Research and Public Affairs. (2008). Biofuel research could result in alternative energy source. Retrieved March 18, 2008. Arlington, VA: http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123089723 • Cunningham, J. (2007, May 23). Biofuel joins the jet set. Professional Engineering, 20(10), 32. • EV pros and con. Think Quest. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from http://library.thinkquest.org/20463/proscons.html • Rosenthal, E. (2008, Feburary 8). Biofuels deemed a greenhouse threat. New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2008. From: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/science/earth/08wbiofuels.html?ex=1360213200&en=45a8ef741f19284f&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink • The ultimate green machine. (2007, October). Consumer Reports, 23-25. • United States Department of Energy: Biomass Program. (2008). ABC’s of Biofuels. Retrieved March 18, 2008. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/printable_versions/abcs_biofuels.html Continue Andrew Jones - Mercer School of Engineering EGR-108 Dr. Davis

9. Pictures • Horse and Buggy. Retrived March 26, 2008 http://www.tripletbnb.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/HorseAndBuggy.150210658_std.jpg • Chevrolet Volt. Retrived March 26, 2008 http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/autoblog/hirezpics/equinox_fcv.jpg • Biodiesel Bus. Retrived March 26, 2008 http://www.goldstockbull.com/wp-content/uploads/biodiesel.gif • Biodiesel Picture. Retrived March 26, 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiesel • Ethanol Corn Pump. Retrived March 26, 2008 http://www.hybridfuels.ca/images/pics/ethanol.jpg Main Menu