Energy sources Batteries Fossil fuels

One of the latest attempts to reduce carbon emissions in cars is the development of the gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, or hybrid car. A hybrid car uses two sources of energy a traditional, fossil-fuel-powered engine and a battery that stores electrical energy. A hybrid car can burn fossil fuels and run on a traditional engine or, at other times, the car runs on clean electric power. Because it runs partly on electricity, a hybrid emits much less atmospheric carbon dioxide and other pollutants. 

Hybrid car A car that uses two sources of energy a traditional, fossil-fuel powered engine plus a battery that stores electric energy. 

Today ethanol and biodiesel (FAME) are the most common biofuels. Alternative fuels from fossil energy sources are mainly LPG and CNG. Synthetic gasoline and diesel from coal (CTL) and natural gas (GTL) are produced mainly in South Africa. Electricity used in battery-electric vehicles plays a minor role today. The fuel consumption for road transport in the world today amounts to about 65 700 PJ per year (IEA, 2006a) in total, the share of alternative fuels for transport at the time of writing was about 2.7% (Table 7.24). 

As with any source of energy, there are some drawbacks to wind power.The most significant is that the wind to drive the turbines may be intermittent and that it does not always blow when electricity is needed. Wind energy may only be available 40 percent of the year in some areas versus 90 percent for a fossil-fuel powered plant. New blade design can overcome this problem to a certain extent, as can storing the energy in batteries, but because of these potential drawbacks, the site of the wind farm is key to its success and vice versa. 

The major advantages of the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are reduced dependence on fossil fuels and environmental benefits. For electric vehicles, energy from electric utilities or renewable sources would be used for battery charging. These facilities can be operated more efficiently and with better control of effluents than automotive engines. Hybrid vehicles are expected to require less fuel per mile of travel than current vehicles. This not only results in lower petroleum consumption, but also in lower emissions of undesirable pollutants. 

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