Will the USA develope alternative fuel for cars?

Question

With top government officials and big companies heavily entreanched with Oil can we move away from Crude Oil based products? I know private small companies have created some good conversions for desiel cars to run on vegtable oil (which we can make here easily) The average American can help stop using so much oil if we move towards this, but can we? Would big oil companies and automotive makers allow such a thing to happen?

Answer 1

You are asking the wrong question. This isn't about the fuel; it's about the engine.

In the 70's GM did tests of a Stirling engine in a Cutlass Supreme. This engine performed a little worse than the regular engine. Today, however, the standards are completely different.The biggest problem with using a Stirling engine is that it takes longer to warm up. The easiest way to solve this is to use the engine to drive a generator and use it in a hybrid configuration. This way you can easily drive away under battery power while your Stirling warms up. Everything else about the Stirling is better.

The reason why engines pollute is because of the rapid burning under high pressure in the combustion chamber. Stirling engines are external combustion so it is much easier to control the pollution without lots of exotic sensors and controls. While a Stirling engine might be more expensive in some ways you could also greatly reduce the number of processors controlling the engine. External combustion engines have burners similar to what is used in furnaces or pressurized lanterns. You don't need electronic ignition, electronic fuel injection, plus monitoring of exhaust oxygen levels, etc. You don't need a complex manifold for intake or exhaust, you don't need a muffler, you don't need a distributor or a spark plug or injector for each cylinder.

In addition to making it easier to burn cleanly you can also burn a wider variety of fuel. Even with 1/3rd the number of monitoring processors you can still burn multiple fuels and do it cleanly. You can burn gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, alcohol, cooking oil, methane, propane, and hydrogen. Pretty much any flammable liquid or gas can be used. You could burn solids but it is more difficult to control pollution with these.

And, octane doesn't matter. There is no need to have octane ratings or use octane additives. Stirling engines are quiet and don't wear out as quickly because there are no exhaust gases to blow by the rings and contaminate the motor oil. Stirling engines run at lower compression ratios so there is less stress on the moving parts and have only half as many moving parts.

That isn't all. You can use composite materials to lighten the car. The 1,900lb Volkswagen Beetle used to run with 36 HP. Add 4 HP for air conditioning. Take off 500 lbs with composites and you will have a well performing car with only a 40 HP engine. It has been suggested that the weight could be cut to 1/3rd however at some point passenger weight will be more of a factor and the reductions in weight will be less effective. Still, having an engine as small as 25 HP may be possible. This would also tend to make battery powered vehicles and hybrids more practical and cost effective.

Answer 2

Gasoline, although it is finite and a polluter, is the king of energy storage. We need to develop other fuels that pack the energy of gasoline but pollute less. Pure electric power is the best alternate as of now. They have maximum torque at zero rpm and are entirely none polluting. Creating the clean electricity is possible with solar collectors, tidal or wave generators, wind generators and small hydro-electric dynamos. In the mean time ethanol made from algae is the best interim fuel to ween us from petroleum. It not only consumes CO2 but creates oxygen. It grows fast and makes up to 50% oil, does not use farm land that needs to be used to grow feed crops, not fuel. Plus when smoke stacks are scrubbed it is by filtering the CO2 trough water which creates a CO2 rich environment to feed algae. Sounds like a win/win to me.

Answer 3

NO.....Once the oil is gone then we will move on to something different. And it will be provide to us by the oil companies anyway. They are the ones who will fund the new technology. Do you really think they will just go bust and not get a peace of the action. These people control the World dog.

Answer 4

Oil companies will try to stop the move toward alternative fuels, but they won't be able to hold it back forever. Eventually market pressures will get so great that the gasoline we're so used to today will no longer make economic sense. I can't predict when that day will come, but it will.

Answer 5

No, because it has never been a national responsiblity to innovate. Individual entrepreneurs and companies have brought about all of the biggest changes.

There was no government committee looking at the problems with gas lamps and possible solutions. Edison invent the lightbuilb on his own.

Answer 6

The USA is the dynamic, innovative society that could develop mass produced, efficient, clean alternative fuel cars. Someday this will likely happen.

However, as long as the government is in the hands of the oil industry, it won't.

Answer 7

Sure!! Just as soon as the last drop of oil is pumped the auto makers will somehow come up with a "miracle" engine that runs on water.

Answer 8

Vegetable oil would be a good source of fuel.. but then more vegetables would be needed. Maybe if they had all sorts of items that could be made into fuel besides gas the world would be better

Answer 9

No,not any time soon,due to the fact that billions of dollars have been invested into these crude oil companies...tom science

Answer 10

Yes. It's on it's way. the prices are outrageous!
We already have the hybrids.
And I know that other forms of fuel are being produced..
ie: grease being recycled to make fuel that will give you natural lubricants to your engine making it last longer and gives you 40 per gallon.

It's out there, it's just not a big market right now....
be patient, it's one its way....