Fuel Alternatives

Among the shiny new electric hybrids, flex-fuel vehicles, and biofuel conversions, a few ideas got missed along the way. Some are in limited use by various municipalities on an experimental basis; others died for lack of financial backing or some critical deficit which may yet be addressed.

The oil crisis of the 1970’s sent many a backyard inventor to the workbench for an answer that would stand the test of time. Many intriguing novelties ensued, though few which have entered mass production. Here are a few of the lesser-known developments in alternative fueling which are on the verge of feasibility:

The Air Car:

We’ve all witnessed the force of compressed air. In the late 1970’s, a strange visionary engineer named Terry Miller built an odd-looking tricycle powered by three large tanks that took up the length of the frame and seated only a driver.

He never managed to overcome the inherent problems in his design, but more recently, the Indian manufacturer Tata has released the Onecat Air Car, which is a diminutive, flex-fuel hybrid driven primarily on compressed air, which is heated to achieve speeds above 35 mph.

Boasting lower emissions than the Toyota Prius and scheduled for US delivery by the beginning of next decade, the pneumatic car may soon be an attractive compact car option for the emerging Asian auto market…and then, perhaps the world.

Methane from landfills, animal waste and sewage

Recapturing methane from large garbage dumps has been an increasingly common practice in some municipalities, especially since the EPA initiated a program to guide such reclamation efforts in the mid-90’s.

Other active experiments with different types of waste products show great potential, since after all, the source in question is rich organic matter which emits carbon in either event.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

Principally used in city transit and some fleet semis, Compressed Natural Gas is a petrochemical, but one which burns at greater efficiency, especially in large vehicles able to sustain greater storage demands. Because it burns more cleanly than traditional gasoline or diesel and is much less expensive, CNG is rapidly becoming an important component of the alternative fuel revolution.

Internal combustion driven transportation is used by us all for everything from recreation to delivering and receiving food and other goods. Fuel sources are as diverse as our vehicles and with the release of upcoming technology there will be a readily available alternative fuel solution for everyone.