Darling's Chevrolet Auto Repair Service Center

Cars that Run on Unusual Fuels

Since the beginning days of automotive history, people have experimented with different types of fuel to make their cars run. This trend has continued to this day. Many types of unusual fuels have been tried. While none have been able to compete long-term, some types had a limited success. 

At Darling's Chevrolet Auto Repair Service Center in Ellsworth, ME, we realize that to save the environment, we need to navigate away from using gas.

Wood and Coal 

During World War II, close to a million vehicles ran on a form of coal or wood gas produced from sawdust. Gasoline was very hard to get at the time and alternatives were sought. They were slow and cumbersome, yet they kept transportation moving. General Motors produced a couple of cars in 1978 and 1979 that ran on coal dust. They used a turbine engine and a gasifier that burned the dust to power the vehicles. 

Water 

A vehicle powered by water has been a dream since the early days of cars. The concept is getting closer with many manufacturers working on the process, while some prototypes are already being made. It uses an electrode membrane assembly that splits the hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen gas is then utilized to power the engine with the only waste being water. 

Algae 

This is a new type of biofuel which has many benefits over gasoline and diesel fuels. It can be mass produced on large ponds that are man-made and can be harvested every few months. Algae converts sunshine into a type of oil which can power combustion type engines. An acre of algae can produce close to 60 times more oil than comparable land-based fuels, such as corn and beets. 

Compressed Air 

There are a couple car manufacturers working on compressed air vehicles for city use. Zero Pollution Motors is hoping to release a model before 2020. The car will be very small, inexpensive to purchase, with a futuristic design. The range is limited to around 100 miles at this time. The car will put out no pollution and can be quickly recharged. 

Vegetable Oil 

Diesel engines were originally built to run on different types of oil, with vegetable oil being one of them. Most diesel engines built today can still be powered with this type of oil, with just a few modifications. 

With petroleum products being a finite resource, new fuels and propulsion systems will be needed to replace the cars of today. With new advancements in technology, the car of the future is almost here.

 Darling's Chevrolet Auto Repair Service Center, 121 Downeast Highway, Ellsworth,  ME  04605 

Sources: Wikipedia and Popular Mechanics