McPherson High School

McPherson, Kansas

Teacher:  Robin Long

Alternative Fuel

By Sam Kleinsorge

12^th Grade

The oil in the Earth will only last so long.  If we do not find other ways to power cars, motors, and other mechanical things than [frankly,] we are done for.  The first alternative I’d like to talk about is water.

By splitting the hydrogen and oxygen molecules one can make a car run [on] water.  It has been proven that one can go 200 miles on 4 oz of water.  Fuel cells have been used on spacecraft for many years to power electric equipment.  While only experimental vehicles are operating on this fuel now, the potential for this unique energy source is excellent. 

Anyone who has taken a chemistry class knows that hydrogen is number one on the periodic chart of elements….  It is easy to produce through electrolysis, simply splitting water (H₂0) into oxygen and hydrogen by using electricity.  However, these days, nearly all hydrogen is made from natural gas.  …Hydrogen is one of the most promising…alternative fuels…for cars.  …Most hydrogen is made from natural gas….  When it is burned, it turns into heat and water vapor, making it the cleanest burning of all the fuels….  [The hydrogen alternative] is still in the experimental stage, but various German cars companies and some American ones are working on its development. The only bad thing about this alternative fuel is that…engines don’t last as long…and they rust.

Next is Bio Diesel. Bio-diesel is a lot like normal diesel fuel, but it is made from plant and animal waste or fat.  It's not necessarily a clean burning fuel, but it is made from a renewable resource.  In Australia, it's becoming a popular alternative to petrol, but it really hasn't caught on in America yet.  Bio-diesel can be used in diesel engine cars, but not normal petrol engine cars. Because little fossil energy is required to move bio-diesel, it is a substitute or extender for traditional petroleum diesel, and special pumps or high pressure equipment for fueling are not needed. In addition, it can be used in conventional diesel engines, so special vehicles or engines to run bio-diesel do not need to be purchased. However, users should always consult with the OEM and [review their] engine warranty statement before using bio-diesel.  The only downside to this fuel is that all cars that run [on] typical gasoline would have to be transferred to bio-diesel because it only works in diesel engines.

Electricity is another alternative. Electricity can be used…to power battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. When used in EVs, electricity is stored in an energy storage device such as a battery. EV batteries have a limited storage capacity and their electricity must be replenished by plugging the vehicle into an electrical source. The electricity for recharging the batteries can come from the existing power grid, or from distributed renewable sources such as solar or wind energy.

Fuel cell vehicles use electricity produced from an electrochemical reaction that takes place when hydrogen and oxygen are combined in the fuel cell "stack." The production of electricity using fuel cells takes place without electricity.  [Electricity] is produced from power plants located throughout the country, transmitted to substations through high voltage transmission systems, stepped down to lower voltages, and carried to homes and businesses through distribution systems combustion or pollution and leaves only two byproducts, heat and water. 

So, if we don’t start thinking about alternative fuels like the three that I have talked about or other alternative fuels that are out there, then whenever the earth’s supply of oil runs out and we don’t have anything to power our machines, then what are we going to do?

Back