Driven
Driven > Weighing the Alternatives
From electricity to hydrogen, automakers are exploring new sources of power for tomorrow’s cars and trucks.
words by > Jim Gorzelany
Gasoline prices are no longer at record levels, but interest in alternative fuels remains high. There’s no one solution out there that can single-handedly end our reliance on conventional petroleum, but automakers are working on some interesting possibilities.
Here’s an update on a few of the systems that may be used to power future vehicles:
Plug-In Hybrids
While today’s gas/electric hybrid-powered cars offer stellar fuel economy, a coming generation of so-called “plug-in” hybrids could boast as much as 100mpg. Already, some Toyota Prius owners are paying around $10,000 to convert their hybrids for plug-in use.
The plug-ins would come with larger battery packs and rely solely on their electric motors for 20 to 40 miles at a time, which accounts for most or all of a typical motorist’s daily drive. While a plug-in hybrid would have to be tethered to a wall receptacle at night to maintain a full charge, unlike a pure electric car, it’s not solely dependent on its batteries. Once the battery pack begins to wane, its gasoline engine simply takes over as the primary source of power.
Hydrogen
The Holy Grail of alternative fuels, hydrogen promises a renewable energy source that’s more efficient than gasoline and produces no pollution. Unfortunately, its widespread use remains perhaps 20 years away. That’s not to say we won’t see hydrogen-powered cars on the road anytime soon. Honda recently announced it hopes to have a fuel-cell vehicle on the market by the end of the decade. It will come with a home fueling system that converts natural gas into hydrogen. And BMW plans to offer a luxury sedan by 2008 that will come powered by an internal-combustion engine that can run on either gas or liquid hydrogen.
Ethanol
Essentially, grain alcohol derived from corn, and possibly other commodities such as sugar cane, ethanol is being heralded as a renewable energy resource. Several vehicles, mostly from US automakers (including the Chevrolet Tahoe pictured above), are available that will run on so-called E85 fuel, which is made up of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Unfortunately, E85 delivers about 25% less fuel economy than gasoline, and there aren’t enough refineries in operation yet to meet a significant jump in demand for the environmentally friendly fuel.
Natural Gas
Large pickups, vans and commercial vehicles that run on natural gas—a cheaper, more energy-efficient alternative to gasoline—have been available for years. Unfortunately, natural gas has to be compressed for automotive use and is stored within a vehicle in a large and potentially dangerous tank. Also, filling stations are virtually nonexistent, and not enough surplus natural gas is on hand to make this a widespread solution. Nonetheless, Honda hopes to kickstart the natural gas movement with its new natural gas-powered Civic GX.
Biodiesel
While conventional diesel fuel is refined from oil, a promising variation called biodiesel can be created from a number of common waste products including used cooking oil and rendered animal fat. It’s as energy-efficient as conventional diesel, but it’s got several serious drawbacks: it costs more per gallon, is fussy to store— much like leftover french fry oil, it tends to coagulate at lower temperatures—and emissions tend to smell like a fast-food restaurant. The new diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD can run on a mixture that includes 5% biodiesel.