Cheapest Alternative Fuels

Since the 1970s the price of crude oil has affected the price of gas in the United States adversely. There have always been option in alternate choices of fuel but not until the 21st century has there been an active research into which alternate fuels are actually cheapest.

Natural Gas

Natural gas is a cheap alternate fuel choice. There have actually been cars running on natural gas since the early 1900s. There are very few natural gas stations in the country and that is a big part of why it isn't used more. Natural gas is about 30% less expensive than gasoline. There is an apparatus that allows you to fill up with natural gas from your pipeline at home. Doing it that way is almost 50% less expensive than gas.

Propane

Propane gas is another cheap alternate fuel. It is a vapor like natural gas and must be changed in form in order to serve as a fuel. It has a high energy density which allows vehicles to get great mileage with this type of fuel. When it is used as a vehicle fuel it is usually mixed with small amounts of other gases. It is cheaper than gasoline and has better mileage.

Methanol

Methanol is used currently in drag race cars and other such vehicles. It has a high octane level which allows engines optimum performance. The gas mileage is terrible however. It takes twice as much propane as gas to run the same distance. It is cheaper but the increased consumption makes it not as economical as gasoline. Methanol can be made out of coal although most is made of natural gas.

Ethanol

Ethanol is another cheap option. It is also called grain alcohol. In the earliest days of a automobiles ethanol was a popular choice for fuel. Today it is used more as an additive to gasoline that can boost the octane. It is very much like methanol as far as performance goes. Some of its biggest advantages are that it is made from renewable sources. It is made by fermenting sugar which is an extremely plentiful substance.

Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil may be the cheapest form of alternative fuel. It may also be the cleanest. Fuels made from vegetables have the potential to be cleaner than those drug up from underground. Fuels made from vegetable oils are nontoxic as well as biodegradable. Fuels made from vegetables also have other advantages. They can improve mileage by at least 3 percent and reduce nitrous oxides which form smog. They have disadvantages as well, however. They oxidize at high temperatures and solidify at cold temperatures.

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