Alternative Fuels for Motorcycles

Alternative fuel sources are becoming increasingly important as the world's oil supplies continue to dry up, while our amount of fuel consumption continues to increase. Some alternatives to oil have been tried, such as ethanol, but the cons were constantly outweighing the benefits. Many people are beginning to look at replacing fuel with hydrogen fuel cells or electricity because electric energy can be provided through renewable sources such as hydroelectricity, windmills and solar panels.

Benefits

Oil will run out sooner or later, though some organizations are trying to keep people from realizing that peak production has been reached to avoid reactionary speculation. But before the resource runs out, its price will go up if demand stays the same, negatively affecting any economy relying on it as a primary source of fuel. Motorcyclists will find alternative fuels benefitical because they will not have to pay more to fuel their bike as the price of oil goes up. Plus, alternative fuels are almost always better for the environment than petroleum-based fuels because they do not emit carbon. Instead, they run on electricity, which could be from power plants running on hydroelectricity or solar or wind power, or they run on hydrogen fuel cells, which emit water as a waste product. These factors make the search for alternative fuels for motorcycles beneficial.

Types

Some of the various types of alternative fuels for motorcycles include ethanol, electric energy and hydrogen fuel cells. Because ethanol production has caused more harm to the environment than it is worth, the attention has turned toward electrical sources of energy and hydrogen fuel cells.

Electric

Electric energy is a great alternative fuel for motorcycles because it allows for both economic and environmental well-being. Electrically powered motorcycles run on a battery, which can be recharged, making for a much cheaper fuel bill that is not vulnerable to changing levels of oil production or price speculation. Plus, electric motorcycles are potentially better for the environment, especially as the world begins to replace older coal power plants with hydroelectric plants, advanced nuclear plants, wind farms and solar panels. Motorcycles may be limited as far as what batteries they can use due to their size.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Another great alternative to traditional motorcycle fuels is the use of hydrogen fuel cells. Though the technology and infrastructure associated with hydrogen fuel cells are still being perfected, hydrogen fuel cells are one of the cleanest and most renewable fuel sources that someone could possibly use for his motorcycle. The fuel cell uses hydrogen as a fuel, which mixes with oxygen from the air outside and releases water as a waste product.

Potential

If cleaner and more economically intelligent sources of electrical energy, such as solar panels, hydroelectricity, advanced nuclear and wind farms, are expanded, and hydrogen fuel cells are designed to be more efficient and cheaper, then countries could feasibly invest in major infrastructure changes to make room for technology on the fuel market. If new forms of motorcycle fuels become widespread, they will lower the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere, thus lowering environmental damage. Economies will be less vulnerable to prices shifts of a single resource used for almost all transportation needs.

Resources

• How Fuel Cells Work