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Conventional vs Sustainable Transportation Fuels for the Future

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Russell R. Chianelli*
Affiliation:
chianell@utep.edu, UTEP, MRTI, 300 Burges Hall, El Paso, Texas, 79968-0685, United States, 915 747-7555, 915 747-6907
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Abstract

It is clear that in the next ten years major changes will be required in our liquids for transportation energy scenario. These changes are driven by two major factors. The first is the desire to achieve 'energy independence' and the second is the desire to achieve an 'environmentally friendly' fuel supply. These two forces will dominate energy research and development in the near future. This presupposes that the lack of viable hydrogen storage materials and the long-range electric vehicle materials will continue to be limiting the hydrogen and electric vehicle technology. The DOE recently reported that the available amounts of heavy hydrocarbons (tars, coal and shale oils) in North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) are sufficient for 500 years at current rates of usage. However, these sources must be converted to liquid transportation fuels in an environmentally favorable manner. Also, promising sources of sustainable liquid transportation fuels maybe found in growing algae and converting the contained lipids to biodiesel. In this presentation we discuss recent development in both areas that promise a smooth transition from conventional to the use of sustainable transportation fuel sources.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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