ALTERNATE FUELS SPARK NEW CONCERNS

The article notes that the search for alternative fuels involves and analysis of their costs, their safety and health risks, and the likelihood of consumer acceptance. Methanol, an alcohol fuel is the considered the least costly and have the least impact on delivery systems. Its safety concerns, however, could be serious: it burns without a visible flame, is toxic, and consumers would have to fuel twice as often. Other disbenefits are also noted. Compressed natural gas is also discussed, and current experiments in Canada are noted. The electric car may be the safest. The ethanol-gasoline blend, gasohol, is also discussed, and it is noted, scores the most points in the area of consumer acceptance.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Malone, M P
• Publication Date: 1990-7

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 18-21
• Serial:
  • Traffic Safety (Washington)
  • Volume: 90
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Compressed natural gas; Costs; Electric vehicles; Gasohol; Health; Methanol; Safety
• Subject Areas: Energy; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00497545
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM