Alternative fuels overview
Pursuing the ultimate eco fuel for modern cars
There are several alternatives to petrol with the potential to become the eco fuel of the future, enabling cars and other vehicles to run more cleanly and motoring to become more environmentally sustainable.
We are committed to developing technologies and innovations that enable people to enjoy the benefits of motoring, while reducing the impact of cars and other vehicles on the environment.
We are also continually evaluating and exploring the potential of alternative fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen, ethanol and biodiesel.
As with our world leading Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology, our aim in exploring alternative fuel is to lower emissions to as near zero as possible and to reduce the impact of motoring on the planet to nil, if we can.
Diesel
Diesel oil has been refined from crude oil (the kind that comes from oil wells) for many years. These days it is often referred to as petrodiesel to distinguish it from biodiesel, which is refined from vegetable material or animal fats.
Electric Cars
The term, 'Electric car' usually refers to a vehicle that runs on an electric motor, taking power from a large battery that needs to be plugged into the mains for recharging.
Hydrogen Cars
A Hydrogen Fuel Cell creates electrical energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen. The only waste material produced is pure H2O - water.
Solar Cars
Solar cars use Photo Voltaic (PV) cells to turn sunlight into electricity. This electricity powers an electric motor, which in turn, drives the car. On the face of it, in a country like Australia which receives a great deal of sunshine, solar cars would seem to offer a sustainable, emission free, fully renewable and green alternative to traditional fuels.
LPG Cars
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is the generic name for mixtures of hydrocarbons (mainly propane and butane). LPG is synthesised from petroleum or natural gas. So it comes from a non-renewable fossil fuel source.
Dual Fuel Cars
Dual fuel (or flexible-fuel) cars have engines designed to run on more than one kind of fuel. Usually, the engine burns a combination of ethanol or methanol and petrol. Both fuels can be stored in the same fuel tank on the vehicle and sensors in the engine automatically adjust to different concentrations. So whatever the proportion of its constituents, the engine can always use the blended fuel.
Biofuel Cars
A biofuel is a fuel made from vegetable matter which could be anything from oil rich seeds to starch rich root crops and even cellulose rich wood fibres.
Diesel-Electric
Diesel-electric transmission is basically a system whereby a diesel engine is connected to a generator that creates electricity to drive the vehicle via an electric motor.