Based on the European Commission’s report that was made public just last week, the various alternatives to fuel have increased its potentials to successfully replace the fuel made from fossil sources that are decreasing by the minute. This translates that transportation might rely on these fuel alternatives that could sustain us by year 2050. Moreover, this adds that by year 2050, we could be looking at transportations means that are free from oil use and CO2 emissions. This is because we need to reduce the CO2 emission’s effects on the environment and address the looming problems of energy supply.

Groups remain enthusiastic that the combined technology of biofuels and lithium-on batteries or fuel cells could replace the oil made from fossils. These two remain as our main options to alternative fuels. Other options include the use of LPG, biomethane, natural gas, and other synthetic fuels.

Later this year, the initiative on these alternative fuels will be released back-to-back with revised policies made by the Commission. The group aims to come up with long-term plans that would successfully meet the energy demands of the transport system with various fuel alternatives that can sustain us by year 2050.

The panel takes into consideration that different mode of transportation requires different types of alternative fuel in terms of amount and power. The alternative fuel’s compatibility with the current infrastructure is also taken into consideration. Based on the reports, the only way to lower or even emit the CO2 emissions caused by transportation is to use alternative fuel.

These cars are going to be rolled out according to specific regions. They will start with California and go on to the other states. Although this is just the beginning as more and more of these cars are going to be seen in the market. There are several hybrid cars that are in the making as well. This could be the kind that has electric power and can be operated using larger batteries as well. Manufacturers are designing new age cars to keep up with the demand from their customers. There are actually 27 hybrid cars in the market at the moment such as the BMW 7 series, the Mercedes S class, the Toyota Prius and Lexus LS.

German car makers are in the fore front of the making of hybrid cars and those with diesel ruining capacity so as to harm the environment as less as possible. So if you want to respect our environment, you should definitely buy one of these modern hybrid cars. To cut the costs you could purchase it in Germany yourself, but you’ll still need a good car insurance policy in your hometown!

In the recent scientific study, the international group of scientists found a system of extracellular enzymes that occurs uniquely in the rot fungus species. This particular enzyme is believed to be a potential ingredient in the production of more cost-effective biofuels.

To be more specific, this particular enzyme system, according to the analysis, can work around the polymer lignin structures of the plant matter. Brown rot has the ability to effectively unbind, breakdown and ferment the sugar units in the plant matter.

In other words, with the help of brown rot, wood can be harnessed as distilled, liquid biofuel in the future.

Not a lot of organisms can breakdown the plant’s lignin into manageable chemical units for biofuel production. The lignin is part of the plant’s protective system that shields it from pests. One of the exceptions is the basidiommycete fungi, wood decayers that include white and brown rot.

Before this study, brown rot was considered a “pest” in the US timber industry, wreaking havoc on an economically significant number of timbers every year.

This recent study was conducted by no less than 50 authors from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI), the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, and the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL).

It was earlier reported on the online issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) last February 4, 2009.

The estimate price has a 30% margin which will translate into a price between US$2.72 and $5.03 per gallon. The estimate price basing on a $100/ bbl of crude oil is $2.72/gallon before taxes.

Bioliq consists of three processes involving fast pyrolysis facility, a centralized gasification plant, and a fuel production factory.

Starting from a biomass, the raw material is pyrolyzed and converted into pyrolisis oil. This pyrolysis ou is processed with coke to create a raw biocrude which can be made into syngas or converted to other fuels components.

The core of the process involves a especially designed gasifier that operates on extreme pressure that helps in controlling the need and costs for syngas compression. This simplifies the process of syngas production since the process produces a raw material that is almost free of tar and CH4.

Feedstock flexibility is also improved with the design of the distributed FP. This will give way to large delivery areas and considerable decrease in the cost of transport.

Researchers though note that the complex technology may only be cost effective if done in large scale facilities. They also foresee the combination of the current synthetic fuels derived from natural gas and coal to be combined with the production of biosynfuel in very large facilities which will prove to be more economical.

To date, China is the second-biggest corn producer globally, next to the US. The US Department of Agriculture projects a 16.5 million metric tons produce from China this year. That amounts to at least 20.9% of the worlds total corn production.

The US, on the other hand, produces an average of 307.39 million tons of corn every year. This makes up for about 38.9% of the world’s total corn production.

China is also a big corn consumer overall: 72% of the country’s produce is used as feed; 20% as ingredients for biofuel, starch and sugar; and 1% are sold as food. The remaining 7% is either used as seed to replenish supply, or is amounted to harvest loss.

Novozymes, as a leader in technology, sees vast potential in China’s bioethanol production. They hope to be the first company to be prepared for large-scale production by 2010. The company has been associated with the development of conversion processes and advanced enzymes necessary for churning agricultural waste to second-generation bioethanol.

COFCO, on the other hand, is the leading producer and supplier of processed agricultural products in China.

With the two company’s partnership with Sinopec, the third-largest oil refiner in the world, this large-scale bioethanol production should be possible. Sinopec holds 60% of China’s refined-oil market.

And whether one agrees with the way in which ethanol feedstocks are produced and the fact that ethanol powered vehicles still rely on fossil fuel gasoline in some way, Chevrolet presents a diverse selection of alternative fuel vehicles including the Avalanche, Impala, HHR, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe and Express.

For those that feel eco friendly vehicles compromise the rugged nature of a solid vehicle or that biogases lessen the power of the “he-man” truck, think again because even the big V8 engine in the Silverado is being offered in E85. In fact, it is believed that E85 offers more octane than traditional gas thereby increasing the horsepower to some extent in vehicles using the biofuel. The thought now is that E85 is in reality more powerful, contrary to the beliefs of the naysayers who are still caught in some time warp using any excuse to smash down technology.

In addition, Chevrolet seems to have added another model to the E85 group according to television commercials airing in Canada. The most recent addition, which will be made available to the public December 2008, is the sedan class 2009 Chevy Malibu E85 FlexFuel.

Further reading:

• http://www.gm.com/experience/fuel_economy/altfuel/vehicles/sedan/2009_malibu_e85/index2.jsp
• http://www.chevrolet.com/biofuels/

In a joint venture with Nandan Biometrix, Ltd, the jatropha grower and Shapoorji Pallonji Co. Ltd, a construction company, the newly formed company Bharat Renewable Energy Ltd will be responsible for converting the jatropha to biodiesel. One million hectares of the plants will be planted and harvested in the next four years in response to the September 11th announcement by the Indian government to require a twenty percent mixture of bio fuels in all transportation fuels sold by the year 2017.

To keep valuable farmlands available for edible food sources, the government is encouraging organizations to use wastelands as growing areas. One such area, in which the national petroleum company has invested, is in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. To further encourage production of biodiesel, new policies allow for tax and duty concessions. In addition, the government has banned the importation of animal fats previously used as the raw materials to make biodiesel oil.

Unlike fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel, biodiesel used to run these cute little Beetle cars, comes from discarded cooking oils. Imagine fueling a vehicle with a restaurant’s old vegetable oil used to cook French fries. Another aspect of the Bio-Beetle is that it also uses earth friendly coolants, synthetic oil, and non-toxic cleaners. The company employees wear organic cotton uniforms and the company mission is “to be the greenest and best rental car company on the planet”.

The company goal sounds like a grandiose ideal but considering the fact that the owners personally funded the development and realization of these Bio-Beetles with their own monies, it is a testament to their dedication to finding alternative fuel solutions. As funds allow, they purchase more cars for development to add to their eco rental fleet. And believe it or not, there are places to refuel the cars other than the rental agency itself.

In addition to discarded cooking oil, biodiesel can also be made with inferior oils that do not meet food quality standards and mixtures can be blended from more than one plant. The most common plants used to create the oils are safflower, castor, palm, olive, peanut, soy bean and mustard.

More info on the Bio Beetle Website at bio-beetle.com!

For those who do not know the meaning of natural gas, here is a small refresher. Millions of years ago, plants and animals died and were later on buried deep inside the earth. These fossils and other organic materials, due to the extreme pressure and high temperature beneath the earth’s surface, got converted into gas. This is what is known as natural gas. You are already using one natural gas for your home cooking which is known as propane. There are other natural gases like butane and ethane. Using natural gas car fuel will help to reduce the burden on the earth’s dwindling oil resources.

As always. Honda is running in front of the pack in this one — surprises anyone?

Tar Sand Oil

Remember that the word alternative only means another form. It does mean better or cleaner. Take for example oil produced from tar sands. It is said that tar sand oil products are at least three times higher in greenhouse gas emissions than oil produced from traditional sources. And yet Canada has a very large tar sand oil industry exporting most of it to the United States.

As a result, as recently as May 2008, green organizations both from Canada and the US have lobbied the US Congress and Senate to ban the importation/exportation of the oil. Alberta, Canada is rumored to hold as much or more oil in the tar sands as oil in Saudi Arabia. Environmentalists strongly suggest that tar sand oil is infinitely more detrimental as it a dirtier oil causing great harm to wildlife.

Generally speaking, the danger in seeking alternative fuels is that good fuels will be overlooked in favor of cheaper fuels. As gas prices continue to rise, the tendency is not to find cleaner fuels but less expensive fuels shifting the focus away from the environment and into economics. If companies can supply a cheaper product, people will jump on the bandwagon not realizing the disastrous effects until it is too late.

Realistically, if alternative means other forms, then it is easy to develop new fuels but, since the general public and green organizations use the word alternative referring to cleaner living, then not all alternative fuels are beneficial.