Why Americans should embrace Alternative fuel vehicles Term Paper

Why Ameri stick outs should embrace Alternative fuel vehicles - Term Paper ExampleIf this trend is to slip away in the future, then very shortly the phenomenon of peak cover would be triggered and global competition of remaining oil provide escalate the prices beyond affordability. Moreover, on that point is the persuasive argument from environment preservation angle. If current energy work patterns continue for a few more decades then the ecosystems and environments across the world would be damaged beyond repair, putting at risk the long-term survival of our species. (Borowitz, 1999, p.255) The rest of this essay will elaborate on these points and present the reasons why Americans should embrace alternative fuel vehicles. Beyond concerns about peak-oil and issues of sustaining conventional oil supplies, in that respect is the danger posed by environmental pollution. While manufacturing industries play their part in polluting air, water and soil, the question contributors at omic number 18 motor vehicles. For example, 90% of the carbon monoxide, 50% of the volatile organic compounds, and 40% of the ozone in metropolitan areas come from motor vehicles. (Meotti, 1995, p.27) With car ownership per-capita in America being one of the highest among advanced economies, there is a urgent need for alternative fuels. There is also the option of attempting to reduce car gross sales and car usage. But since this outcome is highly unlikely, finding substitute fuels for petroleum-based ones is the more plausible option red ink forward. Soybean oil is another alternative fuel that holds a lot of promise. When oil prices spiked during the commencement exercise Gulf War in 1991, American farmers put to use the huge surplus of soybean oil stored in tanks across the country. They said that Soybean oil can be refined into bio-diesel, which can be used by vehicles. Already, by this time, bio-diesel was being manufactured in Europe using rapeseed oil. And by spare-time a ctivity the same procedure, Soybean oil could also be converted into bio-diesel, which would prove to be a cleansing agent and eco-friendly energy alternative. (Schmidt, 2007, p.87) Experts and business people have now identified bio-diesel as a key impostor in the alternative fuels market. It also has the advantage of being produced by both small-scale manufacturers as comfortably as large industries. While bio-diesel cannot completely substitute for petroleum products, it has the capacity to power a wide of the mark variety of vehicles. At present 95% of passenger vehicles in America run on gasoline. Bio-diesel can significantly help reduce this percentage. (Schmidt, 2007, p.87) Promoters of bio-diesel also feel that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages. It is not only a sustainable energy option, but also an eco-friendly one. For example, Numerous studies show that compared to petrodiesel, B20 emits at least 10% less particulate matter matter, carbon monoxide, and total hydrocarbons. The relevant data are summarized in a 2006 NREL report titled make of Biodiesel Blends on Vehicle Emissions. Unlike fossil fuels--which contain carbon from underground sources--biodiesel contains carbon from plants that were recently animate and drawing carbon from the atmosphere. For that reason, burning it doesnt add more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than what was already there. Whats more, biodiesel contains 11% oxygen by weight, which enhances fuel combustion, and reduces the amount of carcinogenic soot that diesel engines spew into the air. (Schmidt, 2007, p.87) Diesel-run vehicles, on the other hand, are decisively more polluting. They release a lot of sulphur into the atmosphere, which in plication creates sulfate-based particulates, which in turn