Tuesday 4 October, 2011. The Green Piece Column.
Theoretically you could power a car with almost anything. Be that coffee beans as we learnt earlier (see story) or some form of synthetic fuel like that which Air Fuel Synthesis (AFS) (see story) is working to produce.
In such times when the industry is scrabbling to find the best solutions, to the casual observer or ignoramus such as myself it can seem like everybody has an idea of how the future of motoring is going to look. But just how do you tell a crack-pot no-hope theory from something that has genuine potential?
Well, with a by-no-means complete list of some true automotive hopefuls (feel free to add your own in comments box below) is TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk’s movers and shakers.
Future cars and their future fuels
1. Electric cars
Yes, OK this one might be fairly predictable, after all electric cars are already on the road. 
And sure they have some sizeable disadvantages at the moment, but the reason that electric cars work for future transport is that their method of propulsion is an energy vector and not an end source. Therefore an electric car itself has the potential to be powered by almost anything too, depending on how we decide to produce our electricity in the future.
Batteries may be heavy, expensive and require the use of rare minerals at the moment, but advances are being made all the time. And while they may be best-suited to urban environments, as time goes on more and more of the world’s populations will find themselves drawn to cities, increasing the need for small, flexible modes of transport.
2. Hydrogen and fuel cells
With the car makers like Hyundai (see story) and Daimler (see story) promising fuel cell cars powered by hydrogen within the next few years, it all looks like an imminent reality.
Speaking to Hyundai representatives recently, the brand reckons that we could be paying around 4p per mile to run on hydrogen, more than the rate for electricity (at around 2p per mile) but still staggeringly cheaper than the average cost per mile of running a car on petrol (at let us say 7p/8p per mile). The best way to produce and distribute hydrogen remain the big challenges for this sector, but the right support from governments and investors could turn that around. Afterall hydrogen tanks could appear at petrol forecourts and retail from the existing network of refuelling stations.
3. Biofuels
While there is still a lot of controversy surrounding the use of biofuels when sourced from food crops (such as corn or wheat) or when they result in the displacement of food crops or natural habitat (such as palm oil in parts of Indonesia); it seems that biofuel use in cars may remain limited for now. So-called second generation biofuels such as algae could promise a means of powering cars without trying to strike a precarious balance between food and fuel.
4. Solar
Britain might be a cloudy country but solar technology is really coming into its own. Ordinary homes are now being fitted with their own solar systems, like the home of EV enthusiast Robert Llewellyn ( also known as Kryten in Red Dwarf, (see story) which, along with the potential to power domestic appliances, can be used to keep your electric car powered up.
Cars fitted with solar panels too are coming available such as the Nissan Leaf, even if these just power auxiliary functions. But watch out for the next generation of solar power, when solar cells become paintable and even sprayable, then almost any surface, including the car’s bodywork can start harvesting the power of the sun.
5. Hybrid and range-extended
I know, I know, they are still combustion cars, but we’re not about to kiss fossil fuels goodbye in this lifetime. There is a real need to preserve fossil fuel resources for other uses (such as medical ones) rather than burning them in engines, but the fact remains that we’re making step changes. Hybrids and range-extended technologies allow a greater of flexibility over energy sources and even micro-hybrid technologies (such as regenerative braking systems) help us maximise the efficiency of fossil fuelled models.
6. Waste, biogas and synthetic fuels
If there is one thing that modern society has in abundance; it is waste. Whether we are talking about by-products from manufacturing such as wood chippings or waste from food production such as straw or old coffee beans, there is plenty that society throws away.
More interestingly, with a world population of 7 billion and growing, plus all the domesticated beasts we have, should keep us in ample supply of the worst kind of waste (yes that; sewage) which can be used to produce biogas.
We saw this idea in practice in the adorable VW Beetle converted to the power of poo (see story) called the Bio-Bug. With livestock responsible for around 18 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions (according to the 2006 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Livestock’s Long Shadow report), our animals are also an important link in helping us clean up energy production and use.
Our verdict: Bank on electric, hybrid and range-extenders for the near future
Aye, as you might expect, we are still very much in the throws of working out the best way to power our vehicles but there is no denying that in the near-future, if you want to embrace the move away from fossil fuelled transport, then electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and range extended models will dominate the ‘alt fuel’ sector. Hydrogen-powered models shouldn’t be far behind and while we might be lacking in the infrastructure to power them at the moment, if governments around the world are serious about it, then the right policies and investments will make a world of difference. For now though I’d be betting you are looking at a Nissan Leaf if you are really looking to ditch the gas-guzzling habit.
Let us know your vision of the future though, comments welcome!
Faye Sunderland.
