Most of want to do our part to help correct and lessen the damage we've collectively done to our environment. Driving an eco-friendly vehicle is a step many of us seem prepared to take, and we are all looking for ways to save on gas, so this is usually a win/win situation.
From subsidized ethanol to new biofuels to electric and various hybrid cars, there is a growing number of alternative fuel car options available. More and more companies are investing in research and development of alternative fuels and other means of running vehicles, and biofuels is a vastly growing industry. Of course, biofuels can be used for many other things as well, from aviation to household energy, so there is certainly money in the future for successful developers.
So the question for both the short- and long-term seems to be, is biofuel as an energy source for vehicles a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels? As we have seen with ethanol, sometimes what seems like a great idea does not always pan out in reality. With ethanol, the immense energy and monetary resources required to bring the fuel to market vastly outweigh the benefits, not to mention that food is being diverted from humans to cars. It makes no sense. Will the various biofuel options offer a better solution?
Green cars are all the rage, which helps the environment and also encourages further investment by car manufacturers and green technology companies. here much debate as to whether any sort of crops used for biofuels intended for vehicles are a viable renewable energy source. That they are renewable is not in question, but at what cost? Crop cultivation of such plants as corn, palm and soy used for biofuels has had devastating environmental impact in many formerly treed or rich-soiled areas of the world. Environmental groups such as 'Friends of the Earth' claim that bioethanol, biodiesel and other crop-based biofuels are not worth the overall cost when measured in terms of financial and environmental impact.
According to the Ecologist, 'Industry research says biofuels, not electric cars or biogas likely to make up majority of renewable transport targets but admits some will need to be imported' to meet North American demands. It would seem that newer biofuels being developed such as re-purposed household and industrial waste, methane capture and use, non-food alternative crops, and digested organic waste (biodiesel bacteria converting organic waste into biofuel) and many more will pave the way for our future energy use in green cars.
Shauna writes about a variety of topics for her website communities, from the best best car racks for your needs to how to cure migraines, and even organic virgin coconut oil.
