Let's take a look at the alternative future fuels that might replace diesel and petrol in 2035.
In 2035, the UK Automotive Industry will change. The government mandate to stop the manufacture of new vehicles that only intake fossil fuels will come into play. With this prospect looming it’s important for car owners, and those in the automotive sector, to understand how the fuel landscape will change.
Other than electric, there’s a variety of other, more environmentally friendly options that the industry could produce as an alternate. And don’t forget – whilst there the manufacture of new fossil-fuel vehicles will grind to a halt, this doesn’t exclude hybrid cars, meaning you’ll still be able to access petrol for a long while yet, whilst the purely fossil-fuel cars are phased out over the coming decades.
Let’s investigate the potential fuels that the automotive industry may be seeing more of in the next ten years.
Biodiesel
A renewable fuel, that can be created from animal fat, vegetable oil, or recycled grease. It can be
used in diesel vehicles. It’s a clean burning fuel, improving fuel lubricity, and raising the fuels cetane number.
Renewable Diesel
A biomass-derived fuel, made from fats and oils (like soybean or canola oil). It’s processed to be
chemically identical to petroleum diesel. It offers engine and infrastructure compatibility, allowing it to be used in current diesel engines; less emissions; and more flexibility, as it can be made from multiple feedstocks.
What’s the difference between biodiesel and renewable diesel?
Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel are not the same. RD (Renewable Diesel) used to be known as
Green Diesel. It’s a hydrocarbon created by traditional hydrotreating in petroleum refineries – but it can also be produced by pyrolysis, gasification and various other biochemical and thermochemical techniques.
Biodiesel is a mono-alkyl ester, which is produced through transesterification. It is approved for
blending with petroleum diesel. Renewable Diesel meets ASTM D975, whereas Biodiesel adheres to ASTM D6751.
Electricity
We’re sure you’ve already heard of this one!
Electric Vehicles (EV), and Plug-In Electric Vehicles rely on it to operate. Hybrid Electric Vehicles are fueled with liquid fuels, like petrol, but use small batteries to recapture typically lost energy.
The UK Government has already implemented a range of features to encourage car owners to invest in Electric, or Hybrid, vehicles. With Electric Charging Points available now in most car parks, Electricity as a future fuel for the automotive sector looks the most promising – and the most encouraged.
Propane and Ethanol
Propane is slowly making waves in America, though it does have some cons.
Whilst it’s a clean burning and environmentally conscious fuel, propane is less effective than petrol, or gasolene, due to vehicles requiring more propane to drive the same distance manageable by a petrol engine.
Across the pond in the United States, propane distribution already exists in plentiful.
Ethanol is a renewable fuel, created from multiple different plant materials which are known
collectively as biomass. The majority of fuel, such as gasolene, in the United States contains ethanol, to oxygenate the fuel - gasoline typically holds E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline blend) which reduces air pollution.
Natural Gas and Hydrogen
Natural Gas is an easily available fuel, which offers an economical advantage over petrol and diesel. Made up of hydrocarbons, Natural Gas is a tested and reliable natural alternative to fossil fuels.
It's very similar to renewable natural gas (biomethane), which is chemically identical to fossil-fuels, meaning it can use the already existing gas distribution system, with it requiring compression or liquification before use in vehicles.
Whilst Hydrogen testing is currently in its infancy, the results look encouraging for this to potentially become an emissions free alternate fuel, which can be produced from renewable resources for use in fuel cell electric vehicles.
Upcoming Alternative Fuels
There are a host of most upcoming alternative fuels, such as biobutanol (which is butanol made from biomass feedstock), methanol (currently being researched as a sustainable marine fuel by the USA) and dimethyl ester, but these are less practical than the ones already mentioned.
With the date of the new initiative being 2035, it’s easy to dismiss this as almost a decade away. But with electric charging points being instated across the UK, in addition to governments and industry figure-heads slowly halting the production of fossil fuel exclusive cars, an emissions free future is closer than we think. Electricity is the front- runner for the fuel of choice, with renewable diesel being a close second.
What’s guaranteed is that the automotive sector will be shaken up sooner, rather than later, with the expansion of electric and hybrid vehicles.
What do you think the alternative fuel of choice will be in ten years? Let us know in the comments below - and, if you're interested in selling or purchasing one, email us at awcarbroker@gmail.com.
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