Alternative Fuels

Alternative fuels are derived from resources other than petroleum. Some are produced domestically, reducing our dependence on imported oil, and some are derived from renewable sources. Often, they produce less pollution than gasoline or diesel.
To promote alternative fuels, the Federal government offers tax incentives to consumers purchasing qualifying alternative fuel vehicles.

Ethanol is produced domestically from corn and other crops and produces less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels.

Biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. It usually produces less air pollutants than petroleum-based diesel

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that generates less air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Propane, also called liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is a domestically abundant fossil fuel that generates less harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Hydrogen can be produced domestically from fossil fuels (such as coal), nuclear power, or renewable resources, such as hydropower. Fuel cell vehicles powered by pure hydrogen emit no harmful air pollutants.

Fonte: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/current.shtml

Vocabulary:

Sources: Fontes
Renewable: Renovável
Resources: Recursos
Crops: Colheitas

Questões:

1. O que são combustíveis alternativos?

2. O que é biodisel?

3. O que é propane?

4. O que o Governo Federal ofere para promover combustíveis alternativos?

5. Qual o gás menos prejudicial a atmosfera?

Nomes:Amanda Santos n°08; Bruna Santana n°10; Camila Pietro n°13

Alternative Flues

Forests paying the price for biofuels
22 November 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Fred Pearce

THE drive for "green energy" in the developed world is having the perverse effect of encouraging the destruction of tropical rainforests. From the orang-utan reserves of Borneo to the Brazilian Amazon, virgin forest is being razed to grow palm oil and soybeans to fuel cars and power stations in Europe and North America. And surging prices are likely to accelerate the destruction

The rush to make energy from vegetable oils is being driven in part by European Union laws requiring conventional fuels to be blended with biofuels, and by subsidies equivalent to 20 pence a litre. Last week, the British government announced a target for biofuels to make up 5 per cent of transport fuels by 2010. The aim is to help meet Kyoto protocol targets for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.

Rising demand for green energy has led to a surge in the international price of palm oil, with potentially damaging consequences. "The expansion of palm oil production is one of the leading causes of rainforest destruction in south-east Asia. It is one of the most environmentally damaging commodities on the planet," says Simon Counsell, director of the UK-based Rainforest Foundation. "Once again it appears we are trying to solve our environmental problems by dumping them in developing countries, where they have devastating effects on local people."

The main alternative to palm oil is soybean oil. But soya is the largest single cause of rainforest destruction in the Brazilian Amazon. Supporters of biofuels argue that they can be "carbon neutral" because the CO2 released from burning them is taken up again by the next crop. Interest is greatest for diesel engines, which can run unmodified on vegetable oil, and in Germany bio-diesel production has doubled since 2003. There are also plans for burning palm oil in power stations.

“Once again we are trying to solve our environmental problems by dumping them on developing countries”

Until recently, Europe's small market in biofuels was dominated by home-grown rapeseed (canola) oil. But surging demand from the food market has raised the price of rapeseed oil too. This has led fuel manufacturers to opt for palm and soya oil instead. Palm oil prices jumped 10 per cent in September alone, and are predicted to rise 20 per cent next year, while global demand for biofuels is now rising at 25 per cent a year.

Roger Higman, of Friends of the Earth UK, which backs biofuels, says: "We need to ensure that the crops used to make the fuel have been grown in a sustainable way or we will have rainforests cleared for palm oil plantations to make bio-diesel."

Vocabulário:
Encouraging: Incentivar
Rainforests: Florestas chuvosas => Rain = chuva, forests = floresta
Bio fuels: Bio combustível
Developed: Tornado

Perguntas:

1.) Cite um dos alvos para a redução do efeito estufa.
2.) A energia dos óleos vegetais está sendo dirigida pelas leis de qual país?
3.) Qual o produto que está colaborando para a destruição ambiental do sudeste asiático?
4.) O que aconteceu com a produção de bio-disel desde 2003 na Alemanha?
5.) Reflita sobre a frase que esta em destaque no texto.

Fernanda 18
Rosana 36
Thais Selini 42
Vinícius Mendes 43
Viviane Alves 44

Alternative Fuels

Alternative fuels

When gas prices rise, people's thoughts naturally jump to alternative fuel sources. Early adapters are already making the shift to hybrid cars, and eventually, we'll all be driving gasoline-free vehicles. Check out the articles below to learn all about the growing technology of alternative fuel.
How Natural-gas Vehicles WorkCars that run on alternate fuel sources are becoming increasingly important. A natural-gas vehicle, or NGV, is the perfect example of such a car -- it's fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and offers a relatively low cost of ownership. Learn about the basic idea of NGVs, the unique design challenges involved, and the advantages and benefits of this technology.

How Hybrid Cars WorkWith urban sprawl on the rise, many of us find ourselves commuting an hour or more twice a day, five days a week! Whether it’s the price of gas or the greenhouse effect that worries you more, the solution could be Insight. Learn the secrets behind hybrid cars and examine two real-world examples.
How Electric Cars WorkElectric vehicles, especially EVs powered by fuel cells, are a compelling alternative to gasoline-powered cars. They use environmentally friendly technology to get you to your destination without the need for costly, supply-limited gasoline. Find out how today's electric cars work.
How Fuel Cells WorkIn the technology world, fuel cells are a very popular topic of conversation. According to many experts, we may soon find ourselves using fuel cells to generate electrical power for our cars and all sorts of devices in our homes. Learn how fuel cells work and how efficient they really are.
How Gas Prices Work Gasoline is the bloodline that keeps America moving. Our personal vehicles alone guzzle over 100 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel each year. When gas prices are on the rise, it can be economically devastating –- an increase of just a penny per gallon can hit some of us pretty hard. Find out what drives the price at the pump.
How Biodiesel Works You probably know that soybean by products are nutritious and healthy. But did you know they can power a car? Find out how soybean and other plant oils, as well as animal fats, are used to create the environmentally friendly fuel -- biodiesel.
How the BMW H2R Works It's sleek. It's aerodynamic. It's powered entirely by hydrogen. The BMW H2R has already set nine speed records in its class. Learn all about the H2R and BMW's unique, liquid-hydrogen combustion engine.
How the Ford Escape Hybrid Works What's so unique about the latest hybrid car on the market? For starters, it's an SUV. What's more, you'd never know it's a hybrid: The eco-friendly Ford Escape features almost the exact same exterior, passenger room and cargo space as the non-hybrid model. Check out the engineering, specs and features of the Ford Escape Hybrid.
How GM's Hy-wire WorksWhat's a car without an engine? A Hy-wire: no combustion, no linkages, and driver controls that work like a video-game joystick. Automakers are moving beyond the conventional car, toward a computerized, environmentally friendly alternative. See what you could be driving in the future.
How the Hydrogen Economy Works With fossil fuels in limited supply, the ever-increasing consumption of this commodity causes problems ranging from global warming to dependence on outside oil sources. Hydrogen is a possible fix, and the technology to take advantage of it is already out there. Find out the benefits of and hurdles facing a hydrogen economy.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/alternative-fuel-roundup.html


Vocabulary:
Vehicles – veículos
Growing – crescimento
Increasingly- cada vez mais
Environmentally – ambiental
Sprawl – alastro
Healthy – saudável
Sleek – lustroso
Engineering – Engenharia
Check-Verificar
more-mais

latest-mais tarde

blood line-linha do sangue

prices-preços

environmentally-ambiental

Questions:
1- Como funciona um carro a gás natural?
2- Como as células combustíveis trabalham no mundo da tecnologia?
3- Qual combustível é econômico,polui menos o ambiente e tem um custo relativamente baixo da posse? Explique.
4- Como os veículos elétricos trabalham em relação aos combustíveis alternativos?
5- Como o carro hibrido da ford trabalha?

BRUNO 11 , MONALISA 25 , RAFAEL 28 , RICHARD 34 , RODRIGO 35 - 3ºI

Alternative fuels

Alternative fuels, as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), include ethanol, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, biodiesel*, electricity, methanol, and p-series fuels. These fuels are being used worldwide in a variety of vehicle applications. Learn more about how the EPAct Program works by going to the EPAct Web site.Using these alternative fuels in vehicles can generally reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. In addition, most of these fuels can be domestically produced and derived from renewable sources. Use these alternative fuels pages to learn more about the fuels, their benefits, and how they can be used in personal and fleet vehicles. You can compare alternative fuels properties, including benefits, environmental impacts, and more. To get regional alternative fuel pricing data, go to the Alternative Fuel Price Report.* Pure biodiesel (B100) is considered an alternative fuel under EPAct. Lower-level biodiesel blends are not considered alternative fuels, but covered fleets can earn one EPAct credit for every 450 gallons of B100 purchased for use in blends of 20% or higher. To learn more, visit the EPAct Alternative Fuels Web page.

1)QUAIS SAO OS COMBUSTIVEIS ALTERNATIVOS?
2)QUAIS SAO OS BENEFICIOS DOS COMBUSTIVEIS ALTERNATIVOS?
3)Esses combustiveis alternativos sao mais baratos?
4)o biodiesel e considerado melhor do que os outros combustiveis?
5)o bio com a mistura lowe-level e considerada um combustivel?

Ademir N°01 3°I
Renato N°31
Ricardo N°33

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Alternative fuels are derrived from resources other than petroleum. Some are produced domestically, reducing our dependence on imported oil, and some are derived from renewable sources. Often, they produce less pollution than gasoline or diesel.
To promote alternative fuels, the Federal government offers tax incentives to consumers purchasing qualifying alternative fuel vehicles.

ETHANOL is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feedstocks for this fuel include corn, barley, and wheat. Ethanol can also be produced from "cellulosic biomass" such as trees and grasses and is called bioethanol. Ethanol is most commonly used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline.

BIODISEL is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel (B20) can generally be used in unmodified diesel engines; however, users should consult their OEM and engine warranty statement. Biodiesel can also be used in its pure form (B100), but it may require certain engine modifications to avoid maintenance and performance problems and may not be suitable for wintertime use. Users should consult their engine warranty statement.

NATURAL GÁS is domestically produced and readily available to end-users through the utility infrastructure. It is also clean burning and produces significantly fewer harmful emissions than reformulated gasoline or diesel when used in natural gas vehicle. In addition, commercially available medium- and heavy-duty natural gas engines have demonstrated over 90% reductions of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter and more than 50% reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) relative to commercial diesel engines.

PROPANE or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a popular alternative fuel choice for vehicles because there is already an infrastructure of pipelines, processing facilities, and storage for its efficient distribution. Besides being readily available to the general public, LPG produces fewer vehicle emissions than gasoline. Propane is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining.

HYDROGEN will play an important role in developing sustainable transportation in the United States, because in the future it may be produced in virtually unlimited quantities using renewable resources. Hydrogen has been used effectively in a number of internal combustion engine vehicles as pure hydrogen mixed with natural gas. In addition, hydrogen is used in a growing number of demonstration fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen and oxygen from air fed into a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell "stack" produce enough electricity to power an electric automobile, without producing harmful emissions.

Vocabulary

Resources: Recursos
Corn: milho
Crops: colheitas
Greenhouse: camada estufa
Harmful: prejudicial
Coal: carvão
Starch: engomar
Purchasing: comprando
Feedstock: alimentos
Barley: cevada
Wheat: trigo
Renewable: reaproveitavel
Blend: mistura
Warranty statement: declaraçao de garantia
Harmful: prejudicial
Crude: imaturo

Pipelines: oleoduto

Questões

1- Os combustíveis alternativos são derivados de recursos naturais a exceção do petróleo.Para promover o uso dos combustíveis alternativos, que ajuda o governo Americano propôs aos consumidores desses combustíveis?

2- O Biodisel pode ser usado apenas se misturado com petróleo?

3-Na sua opinião quais os combustiveis alternativos mais eficazes para a reduçao do CO2?

4- Na produção do Ethanol são usados alguns alimentos bastantes conhecidos por nos quais sao eles?

5- O Gás Natural esta sendo utilizado por muitas pessoas apesar do caro equipamento que precisa ser instalado para poder utilizar este combustivel é um investimento a longo prazo. Porque tantas pessoas passaram a utilizar este combustivel?

Alunos: Adriano nº2, Ohana nº26, Raphael H. nº30, Yanne nº45

Alternative Fuels

Transportation is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, but the use of alternative fuels and the new stricter regulations on existing fuels are helping Canadians achieve a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly future. Select information about alternative fuels based on your use:The Alternative Fuel site has been developed by the Transportation Energy Use Division within the Office of Energy Efficiency.

What is biodiesel? Biodiesel is a non-toxic and biodegradable fuel that is made from vegetable oils, waste cooking oil, animal fats or tall oil (a by-product from pulp and paper processing). BiCompared with conventional diesel, biodiesel combusts better with a higher cetane rating and produces fewer life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) which contribute to climate change.
Biodiesel is produced from these feedstocks through a process called transesterification, by reacting the oil with an alcohol (usually methanol, although ethanol can also be used) and a catalyst (such as sodium hydroxide). The resulting chemical reaction produces glycerine and an ester called biodiesel. The majority of biodiesel is produced by this method.
Compared with conventional diesel, biodiesel combusts better with a higher cetane rating and produces fewer life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) which contribute to climate change.
What is ethanol? Ethanol is a liquid alcohol made of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon and is obtained from the fermentation of sugar or converted starch contained in grains and other agricultural or agri-forest feedstocks. In Canada, ethanol is presently made principally from corn and wheat. Ethanol can be produced for different applications, for example, industrial ethanol or fuel grade ethanol. Research into technology to produce ethanol from non-food sources is advancing rapidly and is close to commercialization.
Fuel ethanol, which is sometimes referred to as "gasohol", has been distilled and dehydrated to create a high-octane, water-free alcohol. All water must be removed because a water-alcohol mixture cannot dissolve in gasoline. Fuel ethanol is made unfit for drinking by adding a small amount of a noxious substance such as gasoline. Ethanol is blended with gasoline to produce a fuel which has environmental advantages when compared with gasoline, and can be used in gasoline-powered vehicles manufactured since the 1980's. Most gasoline-powered vehicles can run on a blend consisting of gasoline and up to 10 percent ethanol, known as "E-10", which is available at some regular service stations across Canada.
Fuel cells generate electricity by electrochemically combining hydrogen and oxygen. On a life-cycle basis, they can produce zero or very low emissions, depending on the source of the hydrogen. Fuel cells are energy-conversion devices that utilize hydrogen and other fuels.
Fuel cell applications will likely be used in portable and stationary power devices, possibly followed by transportation applications. Most automobile manufacturers are now working on later prototypes for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Due to the variety of fuels available for conversion to hydrogen, fuel cells are a viable energy technology, one that may offer significant environmental, energy efficiency, supply and economic benefits. But there are still many barriers to their use in vehicles, including the lack of a hydrogen distribution infrastructure, high capital costs for fuel cells and hydrogen-production technologies, and challenges related to hydrogen storage.
Natural gas is a clean-burning fuel, found in abundance in Canada as a mixture of gases in porous rock formations. It is extracted from the ground, processed to remove impurities and compressed to be stored and transported by pipeline. Canada is one of the largest producers of natural gas in the world. Annual production in 2005 surpassed 6 trillion cubic feet, mostly from Alberta and British Columbia, and there are over 1 trillion cubic metres of proven reserves. Major high-pressure pipelines carry natural gas from its source to pipelines of natural-gas utility companies, which in turn take it to your home for heating or to a retail gasoline station to be compressed, stored and used to fuel vehicles.
Propane is a clean-burning, gaseous fuel that is pressurized and stored as a liquid when used in vehicles. When used as a vehicle fuel, it is pressurized, stored as a liquid and burned as a gas. It is often called LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or auto propane. Most of Canada's propane is a co-product of natural gas production. About 85 percent of Canada's propane is produced at natural gas plants in Western Canada, whereas the rest is a by-product of oil refining. Propane is distributed by pipeline, railcar and bulk trucks and trailers. Like gasoline, propane is sold in litres.

vocabulary

largest: maior, grande
greenhouse: estufa
stricter: mais estrito
achieve: conseguir
environmentally: ambiental
means: significa
low : baixo
overall: globalmente
refueling: reabastecer
However: entretanto
heavy and bulky : pesado e volumoso
Researchers: investigadores
Lightweight: de pouco peso
Through: completamente
Although: embora
Better: melhor
Higher: mais altamente
Blended: misturado
Across: através de
Source: fonte
Stationary: estacionário
Barriers: barreiras
Challenges: desafios
Storage: armazenamento
Pressurized: pressurizado
Western: Ocidental
Sold: vendido

Perguntas...

1)Qual é a única fonte e a maior de emissões de gás na estufa?

2)Como é produzido o biodiesel?

3)Qual a diferença do biodiesel comparado com o diesel convencional?

4)Por que o ethanol é misturado com a gasolina?

5) Aonde seriam utilizadas as aplicações da célula combustível?


Aline 05, Carina 15, Carla 16, Taise 37

Alternative Fuels

Alternative fuels, as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), include ethanol, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, biodiesel*, electricity, methanol, and p-series fuels. These fuels are being used worldwide in a variety of vehicle applications.

Using these alternative fuels in vehicles can generally reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. In addition, most of these fuels can be domestically produced and derived from renewable sources.

* Pure biodiesel (B100) is considered an alternative fuel under EPAct. Lower-level biodiesel blends are not considered alternative fuels, but covered fleets can earn one EPAct credit for every 450 gallons of B100 purchased for use in blends of 20% or higher.

* Natural gas is domestically produced and readily available to end-users through the utility infrastructure. It is also clean burning and produces significantly fewer harmful emissions than reformulated gasoline or diesel when used in natural gas vehicles. In addition, commercially available medium - and heavy - duty natural gas engines have demonstrated over 90% reductions of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter and more than 50% reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) relative to commercial diesel engines. Natural gas can either be stored onboard a vehicle as compressed natural gas (CNG) at 3,000 or 3,600 psi or as liquefied natural gas (LNG) at typically 20-150 psi. Natural gas can also be blended with hydrogen.
(fonte: http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/altfuels.html)

Vocabulary:
Policy: politica.
Act: decreto.
Applications: solicitação; aplicação.
Generally: geralmente.
Harmful: nocivo, prejudicial.
Pollutants: poluentes.
Exhaust: fumaça de escapamento.
Addition: além disso.
Renewable: renovável.
Sources: fontes.
Lower-level: baixo nível.
Blends: misturas. (blended: misturado.)
Covered: disfarçadas.
Fleets: frotas.
Readily: prontamente; facilmente.
Available: disponível.
End-users: usuários.
Duty: dever.
Engines: motores.
Stored: armazenado.



1. Usar combustíveis alternativos pode diminuir poluentes prejudiciais liberados na atmosfera. O que mais podemos fazer para diminuir esses poluentes?

2. Biodisel puro é considerado um combustível alternativo, enquanto o biodisel com baixo nível de misturas não é. Qual a razão disso?

3. Quais os combustíveis alternativos definidos pelo EPAct?

4. Como pode ser armazenado o gás natural?

5. O gás natural poder ser misturado com o quê?


[Amanda 07, Bruna 09, Bruno 12, Rafael 27]

Alternative Fuel Vehicles Will Be Tough Sell, But Policy Incentives Will Widen Use

Science Daily — Imagine a vehicle that runs on hydrogen or biofuels and offers the same features, performance and price as today's gasoline vehicle. Will it capture half the market? Not likely, concludes a new MIT analysis of the challenges behind introducing alternative-fuel vehicles to the marketplace. Not even if it's three times more fuel-efficient.
Among the barriers: Until many alternative fuel (AF) vehicles are on the road, people won't consider buying one - so there won't be many on the road. The researchers' conclusions are not all gloomy, though. If policy incentives are kept in place long enough, adoption will reach a level at which the market will begin to grow on its own. But "long enough" may be a surprisingly long time. Given today's environmental pressures and energy security concerns, we need to move away from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. But repeated attempts to introduce other technologies during the past century have nearly all failed. Dethroning the gasoline-consuming internal combustion engine (ICE) has proved difficult.
"The challenge is not just introducing an AF vehicle," said postdoctoral associate Jeroen Struben of the Sloan School of Management, who has been examining the mechanisms behind such market transitions. "Consumer acceptance, the fueling infrastructure and manufacturing capability all have to evolve at the same time."
Thus, consumer exposure to AF vehicles is just one feedback loop that can slow adoption. Similarly, fuel suppliers won't build AF stations until they're certain of future demand; but until the fuel is widely available, consumers won't buy the vehicles. And manufacturers won't be able to make AF vehicles cheaper and better until their production volume is high; but high-volume production won't happen until such improvements are in place to attract buyers.
And then of course there's the status quo to be overcome - the well - established and highly attractive gasoline - ICE vehicle and the fueling infrastructure, energy supply chain and other industries that support it.
Understanding market behavior
To analyze the behavior of this system over time, Struben and Professor John D. Sterman of the Sloan School have developed a system dynamics model that simulates how markets for AF vehicles may (or may not) grow. The model can track the fate of various vehicle platforms, including conventional and advanced ICE, hybrids and plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells and biofuels. Decisions made by consumers, fuel suppliers and auto manufacturers change the market, consumer opinion, vehicle attributes and other factors, which then feed back to alter the decisions people make tomorrow.
Finally, the model accounts for the peculiarities of human behavior. "Our model doesn't assume that everybody is a perfectly rational economic agent," said Sterman. "Instead, we try to model how people actually make decisions such as which cars to buy and when and where to drive them. Emotion and social status matter, along with the economics." Thus, people's buying decisions may not reflect the actual features of an AF vehicle but rather what they have heard or read about it. And real drivers who are worried about locating fuel for their AF vehicles may fill their tanks early-a behavior that reduces the vehicles' effective range and may cause unanticipated side effects such as crowding at filling stations.
Analyses to date show that a key factor slowing AF-vehicle adoption is the long lifetime of today's vehicles. People buy cars infrequently, so it will be a long time before a given consumer is exposed to enough AF vehicles to feel comfortable buying one. Even an AF vehicle that's as attractive (objectively) as a gasoline-ICE vehicle won't catch on without strong and lasting promotion campaigns.
Concern about finding fuel also slows adoption. In a simulation representing California, entrepreneurs opened AF stations in urban areas but not in less-populated rural areas where demand is initially lower. Urban AF drivers must then avoid the rural areas, reducing the appeal of AF vehicles and slowing their sales everywhere.
Another counterintuitive result: Tripling the fuel efficiency of the AF vehicle should attract more buyers. But since drivers then need much less fuel, energy suppliers build fewer AF stations, lowering the appeal of these efficient cars. The net result? Sales may actually decline.
Self-sustaining markets
Despite such findings, Sterman sees reason for optimism: There are tipping points. With policy incentives that push the new technology forward and sufficient coordination across decision-makers, eventually enough AF vehicles will be on the road that all the decision-makers will buy in and the AF market can become self-sustaining.
The researchers are not ready to make policy recommendations, but their analyses provide initial insights. They clearly illustrate the effectiveness of carbon emission taxes, but they also produce some more-unexpected findings. For example, given the importance of vehicle lifetime, providing incentives to scrap current vehicles may be more effective than direct efforts to get more AF vehicles on the road. Likewise, providing subsidies for building AF stations will help, but giving bonuses for building and especially keeping them in remote areas may be critical.
Most important, for markets to reach the tipping point, policy incentives may have to be kept in place for many decades, even through periods of declining fuel prices. Withdrawing the policies too soon will result in yet another failed attempt to shift the market away from gasoline-powered ICE vehicles.
This research was supported by the Project on Innovation in Markets and Organizations at the MIT Sloan School of Management, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Shell Hydrogen.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT).


Vocabulário:
Acceptance – aprovação
Accounts for – esclarecer
Appeal – pedido; apelação
Attempts - tentativas
Available – disponível
Avoid – evitar
Bonuses – bônus
Buy – comprar
Buy in – adquirir interesse
Capability – capacidade
Concerns – cuidados; preocupações
Counterintuitive – contrário a que a intuição ou sentido comum indicaria; inesperado
Crowding – multidão; aglomeração de pessoas
Demand – demanda
Despite – apesar
Dethroning – destronar; remover de uma posição elevada ou poderosa
Entrepreneurs - empreendedores
Environmental – ambiental
Evolve – expandir; desenvolver
Exposure – exposição
Failed – fracassaram
Feedback – regeneração
Filling stations – (= gas station) – posto de gasolina
Forward – para diante; para a frente
Fueling – abastecimento
Gloomy – pessimista; triste; desanimador
Improvements – aperfeiçoamentos
Infrastructure – infra-estrutura
Insights – idéias
Instead – em vez de
Issue – publicação
Keeping – mantendo
Likewise – igualmente
Loop – laço
Lower – mais baixo; inferior
Manufacturing – fabricação
Optimism – otimismo
Peculiarities – peculiaridades
Policy – política
Postdoctoral – pós-doutorado
Provide – proporciona; fornece
Reach – alcançar
Release – liberação
Repeated – repetido
Self-sustaining – auto sustentar; auto manter
Sell – venda
Shift – deslocar
Slowing – retardando
Subsidies – subsídios; auxílios
Supported – apoiada; patrocinada
Surprisingly – surpreendentemente
Tipping points – evento de um fenômeno previamente raro que se torna mais comum.
Though – embora
Thus – assim; deste modo
Tough – difícil; dura; resistente
Unanticipated – não antecipados
Use – uso
Widen – aumentar; ampliar
Widely – amplamente
Withdrawing – retirando


Questões

1. Até que muitos veículos de combustíveis alternativos estejam nas ruas, as pessoas não considerarão comprar um, portanto não haverá muitos nas ruas.Mas conclusões dos pesquisadores não são todas pessimistas. O que pode mudar essa situação?

2. Substituir o consumo da gasolina em motores de combustão interna já provou dificuldade.
Como foram as tentativas de introduzir outras tecnologias no passado?

3. O que Jeroen Struben e o Profº John D. Sterman desenvolveram para analisar o comportamento desse sistema daqui a alguns anos?

4. Análises à data mostram um fator chave que retarda a escolha do veículo de combustíveis alternativos.Qual é esse fator?

5. Devido a outras análises, fornecedores de energia construiriam poucos postos de combustíveis alternativos e diminuiriam a apelação para esses eficientes carros.Que conclusões levariam o mercado a tomar essas atitudes?

Aline 03, Dayani 17, Mariana 23, Rafaela 29 e Talita 38

TRABALHO DE INGLÊS

TEMA: COMBUSTÍVEIS ALTERNATIVOS

INTERGRANTES : JULIANA nº19, KARINA nº20, THAÍS nº41, TAMIRES nº39

FONTE: http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/altfuels.html

TEXTO: Alternative fuels

Alternative fuels, as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), include ethanol,
natural gas, propane, hydrogen, biodiesel*, electricity, methanol, and p-series fuels. These
fuels are being used worldwide in a variety of vehicle applications. Learn more about how
the EPAct Program works by going to the EPAct Web site. Using these alternative fuels in
vehicles can generally reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. In addition, most of
these fuels can be domestically produced and derived from renewable sources. Use these
alternative fuels pages to learn more about the fuels, their benefits, and how they can be
used in personal and fleet vehicles. You can compare alternative fuels properties, including
benefits, environmental impacts, and more. To get regional alternative fuel pricing data, go
to the Alternative Fuel Price Report. * Pure biodiesel (B100) is considered an
alternative fuel under EPAct. Lower-level biodiesel blends are not considered alternative
fuels, but covered fleets can earn one EPAct credit for every 450 gallons of B100 purchased
for use in blends of 20% or higher. To learn more, visit the EPAct Alternative Fuels Web
page.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable
oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and
reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air
toxics. Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel (B20) can generally be used in
unmodified diesel engines; however, users should consult their OEM and engine warranty
statement. Biodiesel can also be used in its pure form (B100), but it may require certain
engine modifications to avoid maintenance and performance problems and may not be suitable
for wintertime use. Users should consult their engine warranty statement. For more
information on fuel blends of less than 20% biodiesel, please see our site on fuel blends.

Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch
crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feedstocks for this fuel include corn,
barley, and wheat. Ethanol can also be produced from "cellulosic biomass" such as trees and
grasses and is called bioethanol. Ethanol is most commonly used to increase octane and
improve the emissions quality of gasoline.

VOCABULÁRIO:
*Purchased - Comprado

*Vehicles - Veículos

*Harmful pollutants - poluentes prejudiciais

*Fuels - Combustíveis

*Using - Usar-se

*Fleet - Frota

*Environmental impacts - Impactos ambientais

*Pricing data - Fixar o preço de dados

*Blends - Misturas

1) Responda as seguintes questões:

a)Dê exemplos de alguns combustíveis alternativos.
b)Quais são os benefícios de se utilizar dos combustíveis alternativos?
c)De que matéria prima o Biodiesel é produzido?
d)Como é produzido o Etanol?
e)Na sua opinião qual é um dos melhores combustíveis alternativos para a diminuição de
poluentes lançados na atmosfera?