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Alternatives to Gasoline in Vehicles

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Alternatives to Gasoline in Vehicles
Alternatives to Gasoline in Vehicles

One of the most pressing issues in today’s society both climatically and economically is the use of gasoline and fossil fuels in our vehicles. Ever since the creation of the automobile in the early 1900s gasoline has become a commodity that helps the global economy tremendously. However, after over one hundred years of the use the resource has come to be scarcer, and all of the greenhouse gases and pollution that were released have helped set in motion the rise in global climate. As of 2010 60% of the United States’ fossil fuels were imported from foreign countries (Cesere). Even though they produce more than enough fuel for themselves, but there will come a time when fossil fuels are absent from the world. Some major companies have started investing their assets in newer and cleaner alternative forms of energy to help take some of the stress of the environment, and to help solve the problem of gasoline being nonrenewable. There have been many strides in this field and due to the advancement of modern technology some of these fuels have become more feasible options. Some of the most prevalent of these sources are diesel, solar, natural gas, electricity, propane, hydrogen, ethanol, and biodiesel. All of these substitutes have their pros and cons toward economy and environment, but which is the best.

The first alternative that would come to most people’s minds when thinking about making the shift to different types of fuel would most likely be diesel fuel. Diesel fuel has been around just as long as gasoline has, and as of recently has priced to compete with gasoline prices. Diesel is a far more popular in that of European countries where they produce around 60% diesel and 40% gasoline while in the United States it is around 70% gasoline and 30% diesel (Cesere). Diesel is also gets far better gas mileage than gasoline engines and with turbodiesels they are about equal in power with naturally aspirated gasoline

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