The energy production and consumption approach have continued to evolve and progress globally. More countries are adopting a greener, more renewable structure, and framework for their energy sector.
There is a need to continue cutting drastically on fossil fuels and gas consumption. This is due to the implications of climate change, which remains one of the biggest environmental threats worldwide.
It has become crucial to rethink our approach to everything that utilises energy, including our transportation system. Emissions from cars, buses, vans, and other means of road transport contribute mainly to the total greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.
The government plans to ban the production and sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by the year 2030. This ban will then extend to new hybrid vehicles by 2035. These are all parts of the Green industrial revolution aiming to achieve zero emissions by 2050.
Companies, Car-makers, scientists, researchers, and other key players in the energy industry continue to explore sustainable alternatives that can help decarbonise the transportation sector, transforming it to become driven by clean energy.
The issue with petrol and diesel vehicles
Vehicles that use petrol and diesel come with combustion engines, which release gaseous emissions that destroy the environment.
Previously, petrol engines had been replaced by diesel engines which, due to their lower carbon emissions, were the preferred option for being safe for the environment.
Now, the shift is more towards electric energy and other renewable fuels. An alternative to diesel is HVO fuel, which is obtained from renewable materials and helps reduce vehicles’ carbon footprint.
Alternative fuels for road vehicles include
HVO Fuel
HVO, hydro-treated or hydrogenated vegetable oil, is renewable diesel fuel. It greatly reduces the greenhouse gas emissions of a vehicle.
It is fossil-free and is derived from animal fats or vegetable oils, which undergo unique treatments to produce biofuel with high purity levels.
HVO fuel can be used as a renewable alternative to diesel in cars. It requires no extra modification to the existing equipment. Just top up with the HVO fuel, and your vehicle is good to go.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen gas can fuel certain vehicles instead of conventional fossil fuels. The primary vehicle that can use hydrogen as an alternative is fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).
FCVs have an electric motor, a fuel cell, and a hydrogen tank. Hydrogen combines with oxygen in the cell to generate energy which is then used by the electric motor to power the vehicle.
This process is essentially emissions-free and very environment-friendly. The byproducts are water vapour and warm air.
Many automobile companies are exploring hydrogen, with some already designing internal combustion engines that use hydrogen instead of gasoline for their vehicles.
Some challenges to the broader adoption of hydrogen gas as a fuel are that it is selective for specific car models, and there are also not enough hydrogen gas stations to recharge.
Ethanol
This is another alternative source of energy that will further reduce the greenhouse emissions in vehicles.
Bioethanol can be derived from plant materials such as corn, wheat, barley, and sugarcane. Using bioethanol will typically negate the CO2 produced from the combustion process.
Many blends of ethanol and gasoline are already in use today. E-10 and E-15 containing 10% and 15% ethanol, respectively are widely accessible. The engines of most car models can use these blends without making any changes to the vehicle itself.
Electricity
Electric vehicles (EVs), also referred to as Battery-Electric Vehicles, are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. They present an option for road transport that does not contribute to exhaust emissions.
They operate using battery technology. The idea of electric vehicles has long been around but was not as widely pursued as now due to worries about its efficiency.
One of the prior limitations to electric cars was that they typically required long hours to charge, and the batteries quickly ran down after a short time on the road.
However, with recent advancements, EVs now use Lithium-ion batteries, similar to what we use for phones and other devices, and these last longer and are easier to charge.
The EV has an electric traction motor in place of an internal combustion engine. A large battery pack is connected to the electric motor and powers it, and the motor, in turn, moves the car’s wheels.
It runs purely on electricity, and thus, there is no smoke or gas from the exhaust, making it a friendly option for the environment.
EVs are relatively cheaper to maintain compared to fossil fuel vehicles. However, the cost of purchasing an EV can be prohibitive.
There is also the option of hybrid vehicles that use gas and electricity. These can initially run on electricity, and when the battery is down, it can switch to gas to complete your trip.
Other alternatives to conventional fuels are still being considered, as the race is on to decarbonise our transportation systems and achieve the net zero emissions target.
