Ethanol – an innovative fuel for hybrid cars
Ethanol- the term is familiar in the auto industry now. Thanks to the new hybrid fuel technology that works on a mix of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and petrol/diesel. Different combinations of these fuels such as E85, E70, etc., are in market. E85 stands for 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline whereas E70 has a 70:30 ratio of Ethanol to gasoline.
Advantages of this technology are multifold. As the world is witnessing a severe scarcity of fossil fuels, the scope for a renewable fuel such as ethanol is promising. Ethanol can be extracted from different agricultural products such as sugar cane, wheat, corn, and many fruits and vegetables. The economic constraints of extracting and refining the fuel are also considerably lower than those of the fossil fuels. Moreover, the biodegradable nature of the fuel gives a sigh to the environmentalists who are anxiously looking at its environmental aspects. Ethanol is a recyclable fuel; that means the CO2 emission from the ethanol-run engines can be in turn absorbed by the crops which produce ethanol and thus maintains the natural cycle of the ecosystem. Due to its clean and highly combustible nature, it does not leave much residue as fossil fuels do.
How does the market react to this technology? Is there a rising demand for this fuel? These are the grave concerns of analysts who are working on the success of such a new technology. To the surprise of all, Ford Motor Co. unveiled the first ethanol hybrid model, Escape Hybrid, in January 2006. Ford is planning to produce about 250,000 ethanol-hybrid vehicles this year including Ford F-150 pickup truck, Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car large sedans. In another significant initiative, Ford has also collaborated with VeraSun Energy Corporation for a project aimed at supplying E85 at the retail fuel filling stations.
The joint attempt by President Bush and Californian Governor Schwarzenegger to promote the green fuel marks the significance of this technology. The National Research Council, the arm of the National Academies, who advises Washington on scientific matters, has reminded the government on the value of investing money in biofuels and hybrids.
Eventhough hydrogen is talked about as the best fuel in terms of its efficiency, a quick comparison of the different aspects of hydrogen and ethanol reveals that ethanol is cheaper and safer. The hydrogen hybrid mainly works on fuel cells, a technology which is entirely new for the existing auto engines. Moreover, the cost of installation of hybrid hydrogen engines and fuelling stations will require a lot of investment in the infrastructure and other amenities.
The research is progressing on increasing the percentage of ethanol in the hybrid fuel, sources say that the technology has been developed which can utilize up to 85% of ethanol. The US automobile market is excited with this news. Come to the real statistics, the experts say that if only 5% of the US vehicles on the road are equipped with technology which runs exclusively on E85, they can reduce the import of petroleum by 140 million barrels a year.
Hybrid cars – a solution to environment issues
Many of us wake up every day to listen to the news ‘the Earth is dying’, ‘temperature is soaring’. Rising sea levels, melting glaciers, changing climates- all these are the results of green house effect, an abnormal rise in the atmosphere temperature due to accumulation of carbon dioxide.
There are many harmful components, which are produced by the combustion of conventional fuels such as coal and petroleum. Carbon monoxide, which is produced by the incomplete combustion of a fuel is a major health hazard. Smog, a mixture of smoke and fog, is caused by the accumulation of the solid suspensions, the unburned carbon particles in the fuels. The oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur are the contributing factors for the acid rain that has become a common phenomenon nowadays. Lead, arsenic and such carcinogenic wastes are the byproducts of the use of fossil fuels in the existing engine technology.
Though an immediate solution is not possible, the countries are serious about working out an environmental policy to make regulations on reducing the use of hazardous pollutants and fuels and thus contribute a bit to a greener environment. The U.S Energy Policy Act, which came into existence in 1992, identified eight fuels, viz., bio-diesel, ethanol, natural gas, hydrogen, electricity, propane, and methanol, as alternative fuels that can be used in the vehicles in order to alleviate the problems associated with the harmful emissions on the roads.
Along with the selection of fuels, the technology also plays an important role in reducing the emissions to an extent. Such a technological solution is the hybrid cars, which already has hit the market. As we know, vehicles cause a significant share to the atmospheric pollution. With the help of hybrid technology, we would be able to not only reduce the density of the harmful gases in the atmosphere, but also save a significant quantity of fossil fuels which are going to be extinct from the earth.
Hybrid technology is an addendum to the existing engines of a car or an automobile. Hybrid cars work with a combination of two sources of energy – gas/oil and electricity. There are many hybrid combinations; some are already tested and found successful on the roads, and some are yet to take shapes.
In a hybrid technology, a sufficient quantity of fuel, petrol or diesel or gas according to the make of the engine, can be saved with its regenerative energy mechanism. The fuel wastage which happens during an acceleration or a sudden brake in a normal situation does not happen in the hybrid cars as the battery in the hybrid system draws energy from the fuel which is wasted in such situations and thus enable it remain charged even without the help of a separate fuel source or plug-in.
More hybrid versions such as those with fuel cells and plug-in hybrids which work on solar panels are waiting to take shapes. These are revolutionary concepts as they offer little or no emission, and these are working on the non-conventional sources such as water and solar energy.
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Battery toxicity
The villain here is the battery. While appreciating the fuel efficiency of a hybrid car, most of us forget to think about this villain.
What are the hybrid batteries made of? Aren’t they the same lead or nickel, which dispose the carcinogenic waste to the surrounding? Are the risks reduced if they are used in the form of hybrid?
There are many types of car batteries available in the market. The most common among them are those made of lead or nickel-cadmium. Lead is one of the most hazardous chemicals used in the automobile technology. Long exposure to lead can result in brain and kidney damage and also causes hearing impairment. As lead is the cheapest raw material for the batteries, 90% of the car manufacturers are motivated to use lead in the batteries.
The auto industry uses over one million metric ton of lead every year. A report published in 2003 by Environmental Defense and the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Mich., revealed that all the vehicles on the road used about 2.6 million metric tons of lead at that time.
As hybrid technology is proposed in order to reduce the environmental hazards, using a lead or nickel-cadmium batteries in it sounds to be uncivilized. Most of the hybrids use either Lithium or nickel-metal batteries to avoid such apprehension among the environmentalists. Though the Honda Civic hybrid uses a small lead battery to start the motor, its main operation depends on a big lithium ion battery that is placed between the rear seats and the trunk of the car.
The department of Environmental Defense conducted a research in order to compare the environmental impacts of the materials used in the hybrid batteries, viz., lead, nickel and lithium. The report analyzed the different stages such as the extraction, purification, use and disposal of all the three metals. The result showed that lithium is the least harmful, followed by nickel. Lead is the least approved by the panel. Though lithium batteries got a green signal, the Environmental Defense agency had a concern about the combination of lithium batteries. Though lithium can be combined with different metals to be used in the battery, using certain metals such as cadmium could pose a danger to the environment.
Nickel is a carcinogenic metal, and as long as the technology of recycling the disposed nickel does not take the complete shape, this threat remains. There is optimism about the hybrid batteries that they are offered with lifetime warranty, approximately 8-10 years, depending on the manufactures. Moreover, most of the car companies encourage the customers to return the used batteries for a cash offer. Toyota offers $200 as a bounty for every returned battery. With a warranty offered for a minimum eight years, there is a hope that at least five long years are ahead in order to work out a recycling technology for the hybrid batteries.
Honda, Toyota, and other leading manufacturers are working on the possibility of replacing the entire lead and nickel batteries to rechargeable lithium batteries and thus offer a solution to the hovering issues on the feasibility of hybrid cars.
Saab BioPower 100
Saab will give green motoring a performance boost at next month’s Geneva Motor Show when it unveils its latest BioPower development. The Saab BioPower 100 Concept showcases the first production-based engine to be optimized for pure bioethanol (E100) fuel. The result is a level of performance never seen before from a road car using this fuel.
To be shown as an exciting evolution of the Saab 9-5 SportCombi, this latest BioPower concept demonstrates the great performance potential of bioethanol. In combining Saab turbocharging expertise with the use of high octane E100 fuel, the optimized 2.0-liter engine from the 9-5 range develops 300 hp maximum power. This has been possible through modifications to the engine management system and internal components, allowing the use of greater boost pressure with a raised compression ratio. That exceptionally high specific power output of 150 hp per liter demonstrates scope for future ‘rightsizing’, using smaller, high output engines that also deliver energy savings.
Peak power is complemented by a substantial 400 Nm of torque, giving this optimized engine the power characteristics of a naturally-aspirated engine of 4.0-liters displacement. This is reflected in strong performance, the Saab 9-5 BioPower 100 Concept achieving zero to 100 kph acceleration in just 6.6 seconds and 80 - 120 kph (fifth gear) in an even more impressive 8.2 seconds.
The Saab BioPower 100 Concept being shown at Geneva features exterior and interior styling elements supervised by GME Director of Advanced Design, Anthony Lo, who penned Saab’s award-winning Aero X Concept, which was also premiered at Geneva last year.
Saab already markets Europe’s best selling flex-fuel vehicle, the Saab 9-5 BioPower, and the Saab BioPower 100 Concept will extend its leadership position in the development of bioethanol technology.
“Bioethanol is a potent, high quality fuel which opens up exciting possibilities in helping to meet the environmental challenges that face us,” says Kjell ac Bergström, President and CEO at GM Powertrain - Sweden, who has led the Saab BioPower 100 engine development team.
“As the need to reduce energy consumption increases, we are exploring ways to run smaller engines that give relatively high power, with and without hybrid technology. This concept car shows that bioethanol can play a key role in this ‘rightsizing’ process, while also minimizing fossil fuel emissions.”
Hybrid benefits
Say Hi to Hybrid Cars!
Word of mouth publicity has taken the sale of hybrid cars to new highs in the last few years. Hybrid car launches have received maximum positive reviews with thousands of car owners enjoying happy drives.
Monetary benefits will be the main motive behind any purchase decision. The new Energy Policy Act has prompted many car aspirants to look for hybrid cars as the federal government started offering special tax credits to buyers. The tax credits have helped the car buyers motivate themselves to grab the relatively expensive hybrid cards. One, who wants to purchase any of the new gas-electric hybrid cars available in the U.S. between 2006 and 2007, is eligible for up to $3,400 in federal tax credits.
Facts talk for themselves. Ford, Toyota and Lexus, which are in the market with their new hybrid SUVs, are bringing cheers with the buyers could expect more than $2,000 in tax credits. The tax credits for hybrid cars are based on fuel economy improvements over conventional models. Hybrid carmakers such as Ford, Toyota and Lexus offer maximum fuel efficiency and the buyers could get more tax credits. For instance, buyer of Toyota’s popular Prius model would get a tax credit of $3,100, while Honda’s Civic Hybrid would generate about $2,100.
Fuel efficiency makes one happy and especially when you compare a fuel bill of $405 for a Honda Insight as compared with $635 for a Honda Civic. It is the right time to catch on the new technology and say ‘greens’.
Hybrid is offering an opportunity to join the league of eco-friendly companies and supporters with you getting a chance to cut emissions by 25% to 35% over the most fuel-efficient gas powered models.
If you are employed with Google, the search engine giant, you can ensure another benefit of $5000 when you go for hybrid. Even insurance on hybrid cars is on the decline with Travelers Insurance is set to offer a 10% discount to it auto insurance customers and many more insurance majors are preparing their action plan.
Apart from tax credits, state governments are planning to woo buyers with additional incentives to go hybrid. The additional incentives include discounted highway tolls for hybrid drivers and HOV-lane access for hybrid car owners.
One is going to save money again with maintenance of batteries and motors do not worry you. Hybrid car owners never experience any maintenance for their motors and batteries. The engine doesn’t need any more maintenance than in any other car because hybrid cars have regenerative braking and its brake pads may last longer.
Since auto buyers have already burned their fingers because of high fuel cost and low efficiency, hybrid cars are here to stay. Watch these columns for more action from the automobile market. At present, the US is still pitching against the carmakers from Japan to catch the live action in the hybrid market.
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Save on Gas by learning about Hybrid Cars such as Toyota Prius, Smart car and Mercedes hybrid.