Alternative Transportation Fuel Research and Development Education and Training

Check out the "Big Three" of alternative transportation fuel

There are three reasons to check out alternative transportation fuel research and development education and training: economic, ecologic, and politic. Learning the latest on alternative fuel R&D can potentially lower your utilities and fleet overhead costs, lower greenhouse gases for the planet, and reduce our exposure to foreign threat of choking off our fuel supply.

While there are a number of companies researching alternative fuels, alternative transportation fuel research and development currently focus on the big three moving the transportation scene at this time:

1. Electric vehicles;

2. Alternative fuel businesses focusing on liquid or compressed natural gas or propane;

3. Alternative fuel companies producing biofuel, whether methanol or biodiesel.

 

Take a course from colleges specializing in alternative fuel research and development

Companies researching alternative fuel try to capitalize on electric motors' advantages over internal combustion engines: they convert three times the energy to turn the wheels; they emit no tailpipe emissions; they run quieter and smoother with stronger acceleration; and they need less maintenance. However, they must conquer electric's shortcomings: they can't go as far before refueling, they take longer to refuel or recharge, and the fuel storage-the battery packs-are heavy, take up a lot of space, and are expensive to replace and dispose of. So for now, hybrids provide the bulk of electric vehicle motivation.
Try: The Rio Hondo College Alternative Fuel Program delivers certification-level training on electric vehicle technology. The University of Tennessee's Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) center, funded by the Department of Energy, focuses on the development of hybrid systems.

Take the natural route with an alternative fuel company supplying propane

Natural and propane fuel, compressed or liquefied, offer several advantages: the fuel is domestically produced; you can more readily retrofit current vehicles to run on the fuel (even "dual fuel" vehicles), and exhausts far less pollution and costs less than gasoline or diesel. However, currently there are fewer vehicles produced that are ready to run on the gas; these vehicles get lower mileage, and like most alternative fuels, the infrastructure is not nearly as extensive.
Try: The University of Northwestern Ohio's College of Technologies is a charter member of the National Alternate Fuels Training Consortium and offers a degree program in alternative fuels technology. The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AVFI) offers public and in-house training for fleet managers to learn about alternative fuels, particularly natural gas.

Look up companies involved in alternative fuel research in biodiesel or ethanol

Biodiesel is manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, recycled restaurant greases-some labs are even experimenting with coffee grounds! It's safe, biodegradable and produces less air pollutants (except nitrogen oxide) than petroleum-based diesel. Similarly, ethanol, distilled from local crops can potentially lower foreign oil dependence and lower greenhouse emissions. However, pure natural fuels in their pure form are less stable than petroleum-based fuels and have to be mixed; they also tend to be more expensive and experience lower power and fuel economy levels.
Try: The Alternative Fuels Institute (AFI) provides information on the development and use of E85. Azure Biodiesel, a manufacturer of biodiesel processors, offers a hands-on workshop on the basics of biodiesel, including how to make it, store it and gauge quality.

 

• More exotic alternative fuel research such as hydrogen or fuel cell technology is still in relative infancy. Nonetheless, they bear mention-depending on where you live, you may be able to take advantage of these technologies before other parts of the country can. Carefully review your transportation landscape: what and how much you transport, the size and nature of your fleet, and the territory you cover. Then match the alternative fuel to your work environment.

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