Green transporation mediums

Description:

Hybrid fuel / electric cars have been around for a few years now. They are more expensive to purchase and maintain when compared to the standard petrol engine vehicles. Withing the last 5 years,however, we have seen a move towards more enviromentally friendly solutions for our transporation needs. These include hydrogen fuel cells, solar energy, biofuels and more traditionally bicycles.

Green transporation mediums as a driving force

==Hydrogen fuel cells==

===Ballard Power systems===
Manufactures and researches fuel cell batteries and technology. Has a portfolio of products ranging from UPS (uninterupted power supply) modules, industrial motors to fuel cell powered automobiles and buses.

http://www.ballard.com/be_a_customer/transportation/fuel_cell_modules

A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process it produces electricity. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is one of the most promising technologies. This is the type of fuel cell that will end up powering cars, buses and maybe even our homes.

Complete information at: http://science.howstuffworks.com/fuel-cell1.htm

==Kyoto Protocol==

The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement under which industrialized countries will reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% compared to the year 1990 (but note that, compared to the emissions levels that would be expected by 2010 without the Protocol, this target represents a 29% cut). The goal is to lower overall emissions from six greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs, and PFCs - calculated as an average over the five-year period of 2008-12. National targets range from 8% reductions for the European Union and some others to 7% for the US, 6% for Japan, 0% for Russia, and permitted increases of 8% for Australia and 10% for Iceland.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Environment_Programme

==Geo political events==

Middle east oil blockade
Canadian oil sands project

==Solar energy==

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/solar.html

==Biofuels==

In the next 20 years the expected growth of the world economy will increase the demand of oil, in particular for transport (source Exxon) from ~85 million barrels/day to the huge value of ~ 330 million barrels/day (8 times the Saudi-Arabian capacity). For the transport sector depending now for 100% on oil) a contribution to this immense energy supply volume will be provided by the alternative liquid fuels derived from natural gas (but with an energy loss for conversion of ~ 45% and thus significant decreasing CO2 emissions) and at medium-long term from biofuels some of which (as can seen from the enclosed table) have the technical-economic potential to cover most of the medium term needs with a large impact on rural development (new jobs) and great benefits for the environment (zero CO2 emissions, no SO2 emissions for optimised closed bioenergy complexes). Among several biofuels, bioethanol appears to be the most promising

source: http://www.etaflorence.it/Pdfs/Brochure/LAMNET_biofuels_transport.pdf

==Hybrid energy sources==

Tax credits for families which utilize a hybrid vehicle.

Other resources

Gasoline.
Alcohols - ethanol and methanol.
Compressed natural gas (CNG) - natural gas under high pressure.
Electricity - stored in batteries.
Fuel Cell Vehicles - zero-emission vehicles of the future?
Hybrid Vehicles - using a couple of different energy sources or motors.
Hydrogen - a very special type of gas.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) - natural gas that is very, very cold.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) - hydrocarbon gases under low pressure.
Liquids made from coal - gasoline and diesel fuel that doesn't come from petroleum.
Biodiesel - a lot like diesel fuel, but made from plant oil or animal fat.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles Available in California
Safety First with Motor Fuels
source: http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/transportation/biodiesel.html