McPherson High School
McPherson, Kansas
Teacher Robin Long
Alternative Fuels
By Austin Ensz
12th grade
Alternative fuels are a way of fixing the problems we have created…so that the next generation does not have to deal with them. Alternative fuels such as liquid oxygen and electricity are still in the beginning stages. Petroleum fuels are the biggest source of heating, movement, and other things that influence our lives. Gas companies are trying to get more money so that they stay rich. They only want what they need, not what is good for the environment. We will switch to a greater source of fuel when all of the oil reserves in the world are depleted.
Propane is a good alternative fuel because it is a natural fuel, easy to contain, and clean burning like ethanol. It is colorless and odorless however it is extremely flammable. Propane is a more versatile fuel and can be in the same [form] when burned no mater if it is for a grill or for a car. Propane does not cost lots of money to retrieve. [It] is a natural gas that is [plentiful and versatile]. [Similarly,] ethanol is a clean burning fuel and can actually help your engine [and our supply] last a lot longer than almost any other fuel source available. Ethanol can clean an engine and can even keep an engine’s temperature down. These two fuels [can be given] any scent [we want,] like cherry or watermelon, to give off when being burned. The exhaust from these two fuels [does not harm] our atmosphere.
Electric cars are a good idea and can help with the economy and can allow more lights in our cities. A credit card-like system for the payment of electricity would lower the amount of car thefts. But we would have a problem with how we would come up with a cheap and efficient way of providing electricity to homes, cars, and city lights. The amount of pollution put off by this source of energy would be harmful to the people of the community and the atmosphere and would never make it farther than the hybrid car. A hybrid car still emits toxic fumes and still does damage to our atmosphere. So far, it is one of the best ways for us to [decrease] the amount of [pollution].
Liquid hydrogen is a good fuel source and the by-product of this fuel is water. This fuel can give off different smells. It is hard to come by and more uncommon than other fuels. Since it can cause an explosion in the engine compartment [it] would be a bad choice for house use. ...All alternative fuels have a chance of exploding, causing physical harm, and will always be a problem [if and when] contained in a home or a car. Hydrogen by itself is a combustible gas, but is more [dangerous] in liquid form.
Hybrid cars that…run on electricity still use gas, [which lessens the drain on our] petroleum reserves. …[The continual drain on petroleum resources] will soon affect [all] economies by raising the gas prices to astonishing heights and should not be allowed to continue. The reason for obesity is because people can drive to a fast food restaurant. If we eliminate that way of transportation, we can have everyone riding their bikes or scooters, which would cause them to lose weight.
America is one of the leading countries that depend on oil reserves. Most people are trying to come up with different ways of getting around more easily but [instead] we should be walking around more often and taking the time to enjoy our surroundings before they are…gone, [and] before…our grandchildren [have no opportunity to] enjoy them.
Water would be a great choice of fuel. It is always available and cannot be depleted. It also can be easy to heat. Steam powered engines have less power, but they are versatile and water cannot be depleted because of condensation.
These…sources of fuel mentioned above may very well replace petroleum fuel sources in the near future. …The patents for these fuel sources…are being bought by the gas companies so that they do not become [competitors]. The hybrid car is the only [alternative now] available.