The District Chronicles

Issue date: 2/1/09 Section: Cars and Trucks

Media Credit: motherjones.com

(ARA) - Throughout the presidential campaign last year, candidates from both parties have spoken of the urgent need to develop alternative fuels. American interest in alternative fuel technologies stems from concerns about the environment and also from this country's dependence on foreign oil.

With more than 2 billion vehicles expected to be on the roads worldwide by the middle of the century, a little anxiety is understandable. To meet this growing global demand for energy, scientists are developing alternative transport fuels.

"Shell has more than 100 years of experience in developing transport fuel technology," said Dan Little, fuels manager for Shell Oil Products U.S. "We have technology centers around the world that are driving advancements in fuels. While our research with alternative fuels will have tremendous long-term benefits, it's also impacting the fuel technology that's found at Shell retail locations today."

But what exactly are alternative fuels, and how will new technology affect daily commutes in the decades to come? The future fuels that scientists are working on could come from a variety of sources. They may be blended with conventional gasoline, or could be 100 percent pure. Some offer reductions in CO2 emissions.

To better understand the wide range of different "alternative" fuels that are being developed, here's an overview of what may some day fill your gas tank:

1. GAS-TO-LIQUIDS (GTL) - Made from natural gas, GTL fuel is a cleaner-burning diesel fuel that's clear, odorless, sulfur-free and compatible with today's diesel engine. GTL can be used on its own or blended with diesel and has been cited by the California Energy Commission as the most cost-effective "alternative fuel" in reducing tail pipe emissions and our dependence on petroleum.

2. CONVENTIONAL OR "FIRST GENERATION" BIOFUELS - Currently, available biofuels are made from food crops (e.g. corn, vegetable oil). Today's most common biofuel, ethanol, is usually made from sugarcane, corn or wheat. While these biofuels can be blended into gasoline and diesel at low concentrations, high concentrations of biofuels require fuel tank and injection system modifications.

3. "SECOND GENERATION" BIOFUELS - Made with non-food, plant materials, such as wood chips, straw and algae, these fuels have the potential to be produced in high volumes. Currently they are expensive to research and develop and it may be difficult to convince people to pay for their key environmental benefit, CO2 reduction. However, they show real promise as an alternative fuel. For example:

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