1. Alternative Power Sources
For transportation
By: Jordan Brown

2. The Problem
Human beings have
developed a variety of
methods of transportation,
almost all of which rely on
fossil fuels for power.
Unfortunately, burning
fossil fuels releases
greenhouse gases, causing
climate change and Coal is a common fossil fuel
poisoning the atmosphere.

3. Fossil Fuel
Fossil fuels are
combinations of Carbon
and Hydrogen into
molecules that when
burned, release
greenhouse gases into the
Nitrous Oxide air. Greenhouse gases can
be, among other things,
Carbon Dioxide, Carbon
Monoxide, and Nitrous
Oxides. (Enzler, n.d.)
Carbon Dioxide

4. The Alternatives
In order to avoid destroying the atmosphere and
the world over time, scientists have been
developing alternative energy sources to power
our transportation.
So far, there is three promising alternative power
sources. Hydrogen power, Ethanol, and Electric
or Hybrid cars.

5. Hydrogen Power
Hydrogen power is a theory
for a power sourced that is
gotten by burning
hydrogen.
Hydrogen is one of few fuel
sources that can be used
without producing any
harmful emissions. This
solves the major problem of
fossil fuels, but is it a viable
option for replacement?

6. Hydrogen Power
Several automotive
manufacturers have tested
out using hydrogen power
in their vehicles.
Hyundai has made a
hydrogen powered vehicle
capable of travelling 365
miles on a fuel cell, and
Toyota has made one
capable of 435 miles.
(Fairley, 2012)

7. Hydrogen Power
The obstacles for hydrogen
power lie mainly in the cost.
Hydrogen itself is
expensive, but we would
also require all new
distribution facilities to get
the hydrogen to the cars.
After some research in the
early 2000s, hydrogen cars
were given up as inefficient
and expensive. Without
significant improvement,
the technology will not
replace fossil fuel.

8. Ethanol Fuel
The second promising alternative to fossil fuels is ethanol.
Ethanol isn't so much an alternative, as it is a much more
environmentally version of what we already have.
Ethanol is made by distilling starch crops such as corn.
When mixed with 15 percent gasoline, it forms E85, an
ethanol based fuel. (U.S.D.O.E., n.d.)

9. Ethanol Fuel
Ethanol is a good fuel source because it can be produced
domestically in North America, and pretty much anywhere
else in the world, reducing our dependency on the Middle
East for fuel.
E85 is also much better for the environment than fossil fuels,
and while it doesn't have zero emissions, like hydrogen, it
would still be a significant step in the right direction.
Barack Obama, the president of the United States, supports ethanol as a fuel source.

10. Ethanol Fuel
The drawbacks of Ethanol once again lie in the cost. E85 is
currently very expensive to produce, and since it has a lower
energy content to volume ratio than fossil fuel, a tank of E85
won't get you nearly as far as a tank of 100 percent
gasoline. (U.S.D.O.E., n.d.)
Due to the extremely high cost, and less than stellar
environmental impact, ethanol will probably not replace
fossil fuels any time soon.

11. Electric Vehicles
The third, and perhaps
most promising advance in
alternative energy for
transportation has been the
electric car.
Electric cars are already
very common on highways
today, since they don't
require any extravagant
fuelling stations, you can
currently get electricity
almost anywhere.

12. Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles have the advantage of producing no tail pipe
emissions. Since the atmosphere is becoming such a large
environmental concern, lowering greenhouse gas emissions is a
fantastic benefit to electric cars.
They also have the benefit of using 75% of the power generated
by electricity. An average gasoline powered car only uses 20% of
the power from burning gasoline (Goertz, n.d.).

13. Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are already a very popular alternative to
fossil fuel powered vehicles. There are some drawbacks,
such as a long charging time and a low range, but despite
this, the electric car has become standard.
Given time and sufficient technological development, electric
cars could come to outnumber, and eventually replace fossil
fuel driven cars, and the environment will be better for it.

14. Reference List
Enzler, S.M. (n.d.) Fossil fuels. Retrieved from
www.lenntech.com/greenhouse-effect/fossil-fuels.htm
Fairley, Peter. (2012). Hydrogen cars: A dream that won't
die. Retrieved from
www.technologyreview.com/news/429495/hydrogen-
cars-a-dream-that-wont-die/
Goertz, Joe. (n.d.) The benefits of electric vehicles.
Retrieved from emissionfreecars.com/article/The-
Benefits-Of-Electric-Vehicles/296058/