Many countries are steadily phasing out fossil fuels because they are non-renewable, and we will eventually run out of them. Moreover, burning them is the main driver behind the climate crisis in which we find ourselves. However, batteries are not yet a universal solution for poor places like rural India. Therefore we must explore all the alternative automobile fuel sources available.
Known Alternative Automobile Fuel Sources
We have reviewed hydrogen fuel cells, electric battery propulsion and even bio-fuels like vegetable oil and ethanol on these pages. According to Car Blog India motorcycle maker TVS has just launched the Apache RTR 200 4V that runs on ethanol fuel derived from sugar cane.
This fuel is a popular additive to gasoline. However using it as primary energy source has been rare although there have been successes. Ethanol fuel scores well compared to gasoline because burning it does not release particulate matter into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, it does release carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water in a gaseous state, and formaldehydes.
Therefore Ethanol is Not Ideal Bio-Fuel for Autos
We are inclined to believe that other alternative automobile fuel sources will have similar problems in internal combustion engines. Moreover, while we could grow more sugar cane this could be at the cost of food sustainability.
If large scale ethanol production is impractical, then we have two known alternative sources of automobile energy. These are various types of batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells. Mass electrification of personal transport is proving a challenge to roll out in far flung, poorer areas like rural India. Therefore, outside of cities the gasoline engine may continue to be a familiar sound on their roads.
We don’t enjoy reaching this conclusion; however this seems inevitable given the prevailing situation. That is, until the nations of the world realize the only way to tackle a global problem is truly at that level.
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Preview Image: Woman Collecting Sugar Cane in Vietnam
