What are the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives to gasoline to power automobiles?
Because the emissions produced by the burning of gasoline are a major source of air pollution, alternatives to gasoline are currently being developed. None of the alternatives (listed below) delivers as much energy content as gasoline. Therefore, it takes greater quantities of each of these fuels, than it does gasoline, to drive an equal number of miles. The most viable alternative to gasoline is called “flexible fuel,” a combination of methanol and gasoline. The use of flexible fuel, however, would require an expensive fuel sensor and a longer fuel tank, adding at least $300 to the price of a car.
