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not require a major shift from current automobile design.

address this question, we will assume that "alternative" refers to those fuels that are produced from a nonfossil source or to those fuels (fossil or otherwise) that would require substantial changes in automotive design or in the distribution and marketing infrastructure.

proposed a number of compounds--including methanol, ethanol, hydrogen, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), so-called biodiesel and hydrogen--

cannot be reversed to regenerate the original fuel mass

a fuel problem does exist

If the supply of fuel is finite, not only will there be no energy supply when the fuel is exhausted

all other processes that depend on it will cease

Several factors combine to make the problem an urgent one

World population

demand for energy will also increase

coal, oil (petroleum), natural gas, uranium, and fuel wood—is limited and insufficient to sustain rapid rates of development.

debate about the exact length of time available before the effects of a worldwide shortage become apparent

shortage will occur.

geothermal energy, hydroelectric power, peat, ocean thermal energy, solar energy, tidal energy, wind power, and fuel wood.

replenish themselves naturally in a relatively short time and will therefore always be available.

Renewable energy resources

indirectly responsible for many other renewable energy sources.

ocean currents and winds are results of the uneven distribution of solar radiation over the Earth's surface

winds in turn produce waves whose energy can be utilized

windmills and wind power

ocean thermal energy, solar heating of the upper layers of the ocean produces temperature gradients that can be harnessed to generate electricity

Sun also powers the hydrologic cycle, in which ocean water is evaporated, transported over the continents, and precipitated as rain or snow to form rivers

flow energy produces hydroelectric power.

energy locked in such renewable fuel sources as wood and peat is derived from the Sun by the process of photosynthesis.

renewable energy source is geothermal energy

arises through the leakage of heat from the Earth's interior to the surface

over the entire surface of the Earth at a very low average rate, leakage is much higher in certain locations.

Yellowstone National Park

Iceland, Italy, and New Zealand.

possible to tap the heat and use it for human purposes.

Nonrenewable resources originate from two processes: (1) photosynthesis, which occurred many millions of years ago, followed by the fossilization of the plant and animal life that resulted, and (2) the formation of the Earth itself.

fossil fuels—coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas;

produced the fuels for nuclear energy, such as uranium for fission and lighter elements for fusion

irreplaceable fuels represent an energy capital that must be invested wisely.

A cleaner-burning fuel than oil, natural gas seemed to be in abundant supply at the turn of the 21st century and, with the greatly enlarged network of gas pipelines, was rapidly growing in use.

nearly total dependence on fossil fuels and hydroelectricity ensures that efforts to solve energy problems by switching to alternative sources will have to overcome a great deal of inertia, both economic and psychological.

sources as solar power, wind power, and synthetic fuels suffer from the serious drawback that few major installations now exist.

handicapped by the engineering problems of converting the energy to a form useful to human beings.

solar energy reaches the top of the atmosphere in amounts 10,000 times greater than all human production of energy, it reaches the Earth's surface at rates of only about 80 to 250 W/m2, and considerably less on cloudy days.

arge-scale system based on solar-collector panels will be physically huge, causing problems of maintenance and land use

Wind power, wave power, and ocean-thermal-generation sources suffer from similar difficulties

A nonpoint source delivers pollutants indirectly through environmental changes.

Nonpoint sources are much more difficult to control.

Pollution arising from nonpoint sources accounts for a majority of the contaminants in streams and lakes.  

Many causes of pollution including sewage and fertilizers contain nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates.  In excess levels, nutrients over stimulate the growth of aquatic plants and algae.  Excessive growth of these types of organisms consequently clogs our waterways, use up dissolved oxygen as they decompose, and block light to deeper waters.

Pollution in the form of organic material enters waterways in many different forms as sewage, as leaves and grass clippings, or as runoff from livestock feedlots and pastures.

    Pathogens are another type of pollution that prove very harmful.

Three last forms of water pollution exist in the forms of petroleum, radioactive substances, and heat.

     Ninety-five percent of all fresh water on earth is ground water

Ground water is found in natural rock formations.

These formations, called aquifers, are a vital natural resource with many uses.  Nationally, 53% of the population relies on ground water as a source of drinking water.  In rural areas this figure is even higher.  Eighty one percent of community water is dependent on ground water.  Although the 1992 Section 305(b) State Water Quality Reports indicate that, overall, the Nation�s ground water quality is good to excellent, many local areas have experienced significant ground water contamination. Some examples are leaking underground storage tanks and municipal landfills.

mankind would have perfected and commercialized alternate sources of fuel that will be eco- friendly and affordable too.

Bio-diesel is one such alternate fuel source that is extracted from plants.

E 85, bio-diesel

Its contents of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol mean that it is at least better than using pure gasoline.

uch alternate fuel sources like E 85 score above gasoline, they still pollute and require a vast amount of corn to be grown

translates into availability of lesser land for growing food for people.

electric cars seem to be the best alternate fuel source that we have

conserve our natural fuel sources.

efficient because all of the electricity that they need can be generated at one central location.

much better option than consuming petroleum derivatives and polluting more by using small and inefficient combustion motors.

Electricity

produced in any manner that suits the needs on a particular location depending on the resources it has

coal, hydro-electric or wind to produce this electricity that is required for electric cars.