I hear of people inventing all kinds GREAT new fuel ideas. (potatoes, coconut) Why don't these ideas catch on?

Answer 1

That's a good question, and I think that the answer is multi-faceted. The huge power of existing players in the energy market, the neccessity that energy output must exceed processing inputs, and the ubiquitous and stable presence of raw materials are certainly important factors. You also need to achieve economic balances. I think that the way to implement any new fuel is a cut out a market- say buses, taxis, or home heating, and then push into that.

The Japanese have a big problem disposing of garbage, particularly agricultural waste. They are making fuels from this stuff now because the cost of disposal is figured into the equation. So they are actually making ethanol for buses out of rice bran and rice husks, which they usually throw away.
This stuff is donated by farmers, who are happy to dispose of it for free. So there is a solution that is working because they have achieved all of the above and put it to work in the bus segment. Government buses or garbage trucks are a good place to start because you can get the city to mandate such use so they will be forced to make it work financially, enduring the small bumps in the road, teaching drivers to do less pedal-pumping and braking, etc.

Many private & public universities have gotten rid of some of their vans and trucks, opting for battery-powered golfcarts or SmartCars instead, using these for staff cars and landscaping & facilities. There is another example of making the formula work within an organizational structure via mandate.

Once these solutions are successful in business and government, more and more private individuals will be willing to implement them for their own reasons or self-interest.

Answer 2

Well, you have to consider the cost. How many potatoes would it take to make a gallon of fuel or how many coconuts would it take? Then what's the current market value for those? If it gets used as fuel that will drive the demand for that up and the price for it up. Then even if you do come up with one that is feasible and cheap no distribution network has probably been created yet for nor have probably the cars been designed for it yet. Then even if you do that you can't retro fit cars. If you do, the car has to give off less emissions than what it originally did per federal law. And that is hard to do.

So the answer is more complicated than it looks.

Answer 3

No one has invented a machine or method that would make it much easier to process these products. It's very cumbersome to produce fuel in these manners. I also think the idea of using food staples such as potatoes and corn to produce fule when there are so many millions starving in other countries, is not a comfortable thought. Cars should run on batteries, solar, wind, electricity, but like many of the other answers indicate, oil companies have a vested interest in cars running on fossil fuel.

Answer 4

because the oil companies and the governments which make a lot of money off of taxes on oil and gasoline do not want a cheaper more clean fuel source until they use up their current major source of funds that the world has no other choice but to rely upon, the only ones out there that can afford the decent working electric cars are the very very rich

Answer 5

It's super costly to introduce a different fuel source. From new production to figuring out how to get the end product to consumers, it's a long and very expensive product. Also it's made even harder when major oil companies are standing in your way with their huge profits.

Answer 6

The problem is the ones controlling the development. Guessing who that is? IT'S THE OIL COMPANIES!!! Why would they release these new forms when they are making money on what they have already, the government needs to take control of the development of new fuel. But the government doesn't care much if they're getting their cut so don't count on it.

Answer 7

Some of them have underlying issues. I'm not sure, but for example, coconuts would be hard to grow in the needed abundance. Others are shot down because in their initial phases, they aren't very efficient. If people could be patient, refining techniques would get better.

But in my opinion, the big reason is BIG OIL!!! When you can buy so many politicians, you can suppress new ideas that threaten your profit margins and share holder's wallets.

Answer 8

In the '70s, there were engines that could run on water, but oil companies bought up all the patents and still continue to buy the patents in order to keep oil a necessity.

Invest in a bicycle. ;) It's much more eco-friendly and good for you too. We only use the car to get groceries once a week.

Answer 9

the petrolium companies have too much of a hold on the economies.its the same with the hybrid cars and solar powered vechiles.Gas in general is too big for small ideas to make it. so many people use normal leaded and unleaded gas that it'll take a hell of alot to persuade society to switch. (i saw a documentary about this on the discovery channel

Answer 10

first the cost is too high at the moment. people are still working on ways to make it cost efficient. animal fat will eventually be used as a blend called bio-diesel. corn is already being used in some areas.