Negatives of Alternative Fuels

Politicians have expressed an interest in alternative fuels to lessen dependence on oil and petrochemicals. Many members of the general public are interested in alternative fuels because of environmental concerns with petrochemicals. Though several alternative fuels being developed show promise, there are negatives associated with each of these, from concerns about cost and safety to difficulties with mass production.

Biodiesel

Using biodiesel fuel gives better gas mileage than conventional gasoline, but not as good mileage as conventional diesel fuel. Additionally, the cost of producing biodiesel makes it impractical.

Electricity

Electric cars currently are more expensive than gasoline-powered cars. Electricity as a fuel doesn't necessarily cut down on pollution, either, as most electricity in the United States is produced by burning coal.

Ethanol

Corn ethanol gives lower gas mileage than gasoline and may contribute to smog. Cellulosic ethanol is more economical, but the infrastructure to mass produce it is not in place and may take many decades to develop.

Hydrogen

The cheapest way to produce hydrogen for fuel cells is by using natural gas, a non-renewable resource that creates greenhouse gases when burned. Hydrogen can also be made from water, but this is expensive and widespread adoption of this practice could threaten the world's freshwater reserves.

Nuclear power

The main drawback to using nuclear power to produce electricity is concerns over how to store radioactive wastes produced by the process.

Resources

• Information on alternative fuels from the U.S. Department of Energy