Fuels

Pros and Cons of Ethanol

Proponents of ethanol emphasize its environmental and energy security benefits.

Hydrogen

Some say hydrogen is the fuel of the future. Others say it always will be.

Fewer than 500 filling stations in the US offer commercial biodiesel. But unlike any other fuel for modern engines, biodiesel can be made at home without investing heavily in special equipment or earning a PhD in chemistry.

FAME versus NERD and Biodiesel's Future

FAME versus NERD is not the latest summer blockbuster for teens. FAME and NERD are the acronyms defining the two main forms of biodiesel—a non-petroleum renewable fuel that can theoretically run in any diesel vehicle without modification. Understanding the differences between FAME and NERD could help determine the future of biodiesel.

The Sad Ballad of BioWillie Biodiesel

At one point, the biodiesel fuel branded with Willie Nelson's name and face looked like it was going to launch the biofuel into the mainstream. Now, the company behind BioWillie is trying to pull itself from the brink of bankruptcy.

Greenline's Waterless Biodiesel Process Receives Funding

Greenline Industries, a San Franscisco-based biofuel equipment company, secured $20 million in investment capital to further develop its patented “waterless” biodiesel system.

Time Blasts Biofuels

The cover story in the current issue of Time Magazine calls biofuels a “clean energy scam.” We offer ten facts to consider from the article, including this one: the grain it takes to fill an SUV tank with ethanol could feed a person for a year.

The Car Electric-Grid Utopia, With Caveats

The vision of hundreds of thousands of electric cars buzzing along American highways and byways makes most utility companies downright giddy. It’s not just the opportunity sell a lot more electricity that gets them excited. “We think there’s a fundamental game-changer here. And that’s energy storage,” said Ed Kjaer, director of electric transportation at Southern California Edison. What will it take to get us there?

BMW Hydrogen 7 Beats SULEV Standard

BMW’s Hydrogen 7, which has garnered attention for being test-driven by a roster of celebrities, has been confirmed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory to surpass Super Ultra Low-Emission Vehicle standards.

Experts Identify Obstacles to Clean Diesel Future

A recent panel of diesel experts identified the environmental benefits of clean diesel. “Diesel has a major role to play because it’s inherently more efficient than gasoline combustion," said Tim Johnson, director of environmental technologies, Corning Inc. "And it produces about 20 percent fewer greenhouse gases." But the panel didn’t sidestep the most difficult challenges either.