Cover story
Words by Jewel Sta Ana
The future of mobility is brighter and greener than ever. We’ve witnessed the rise of hybrid and electric cars, as well as motorcycles, bikes, and even e-scooters with new and improved safety features. Going beyond aesthetics and technology, manufacturers have been producing these alternative transport to make the world a better place to live in. Although
T
ALTERNATIVES AND BIOFUELS There are three main categories of alternative fuels: gas fuels, alcohols, and biofuels. Gas fuels such as propane and natural gas are domestically abundant and readily available in the market. In the local setting, some public utility vehicles such as jeeps and taxis use auto-LPG as an alternative and cleaner source of fuels. Bioethanol, butanol, and methanol reduce air pollution by recycling the carbon dioxide that is released when it is combusted as fuel. This reduces petroleum use and greenhouse gas emission. Just like gas fuels, alcohol-based fuels can either be mixed with other fuels or used in a specialized engine. Last on the list are biofuels which are another type of renewable fuel sourced from vegetable and wastederived oils.
July 2021
these innovations are relatively new, people have become curious about the fuels and power sources for these rides. What makes the engines of these road companions roar? What does the future hold for these sustainable, renewable, and efficient alternatives? We learned in Science class that factories and traditional cars contribute to higher carbon
In the Philippines, coconut biodiesel mixed with fossil diesel is a great alternative to imported diesel. Although it costs more than other biofuels, those manufactured from coconuts deliver impressive engine performance, yielding more kilometers compared to other biofuels. Another example is sustainable aviation fuel commonly known as SAF. Compared to petroleum, it is derived from renewable sources with a great reduction in carbon emission. Since it is chemically identical to its petroleum counterparts, it minimizes compatibility issues and costs. With further research, sources for alternative fuels may be widely used mainly for public transport. Since the Philippines has a rich agricultural base, crop wastes and other natural resources such as minerals may be used for developing more alternative fuels.
48
emissions that produce the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons can trap heat in the atmosphere, resulting in climate change. To prevent this from happening, countries around the globe have started to implement environmental policies and develop alternative fuel sources.
Some car owners may also opt to modify their existing engine and fueling system for compatibility.
RENEWABLE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY The scarcity of alternative fuels sources is another growing concern in developing countries. According to the 2020 report of Climate Transparency, an organization that conducts climate assessments globally, the Philippines must rapidly develop energy-efficient transport and a flexible power grid for more variable renewable energy. The 2018 report of Enerdata, an independent research firm that conducts global energy market assessments, shows that 23 percent of the energy supply in the Philippines is from the following main renewable sources of energy: geothermal, biomass, solar power, and wind power. Geothermal energy harnesses
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
