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