Helena Joyce
Fossil fuels are a major source of pollution, but some are less harmful than others. Natural gas, for example, emits up to 25% less carbon per unit of energy than conventional gasoline and is a domestically abundant fuel with cost advantages over gasoline and diesel. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is the least polluting fossil fuel for vehicles, emitting significantly less pollution directly than gasoline or oil when combusted. However, there are also alternative fuels and advanced vehicles that can further reduce emissions, such as electricity, hydrogen fuel cells, and biofuels. As such, consumers are increasingly interested in these options to improve efficiency, cut costs, and reduce their environmental impact.
Least Polluting Fossil Fuel for Vehicles
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Least Polluting Fossil Fuel | CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) |
| Chemical Formula | CH4 |
| Cleanest Burning Fossil Fuel | Yes |
| Emission Compared to Gasoline | Up to 25% less carbon per unit energy |
| Availability | Abundant |
| Cost | Cost advantages over gasoline and diesel fuels |
| Applications | Transit buses, short-haul commercial trucks, vehicle fleets |
| Alternative Least Polluting Fuels | Hydrogen, Biodiesel, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Propane |
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What You'll Learn
CNG (compressed natural gas) is the least polluting fossil fuel
CNG, or compressed natural gas, is widely considered the least polluting fossil fuel for vehicles. It is a fossil fuel primarily made of methane, which is compressed to nearly 1% of its volume at regular atmospheric pressure. CNG is a popular alternative fuel for passenger cars and public transportation such as buses due to its low emission rates and other eco-friendly benefits.
One of the key advantages of CNG is its ability to produce lower emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel. When an engine runs on gasoline for 100 kilometres, it releases 22 kilograms of CO2. In contrast, a compressed natural gas engine emits only 16.3 kilograms of CO2 for the same distance. CNG-powered vehicles also have lower nitrogen oxide and soot emissions compared to diesel engines. Additionally, CNG vehicles have been found to emit approximately 6 to 11% lower levels of greenhouse gases than petrol or diesel-powered vehicles.
While CNG vehicles have lower emissions than traditional fossil fuel vehicles, it is important to note that they still produce a significant amount of CO, CH4, and NOx gases. To address this issue, advancements are being made in catalytic converter technology to control emissions from CNG engines. For example, oxidation catalysts, such as noble and non-noble metals, have been shown to effectively reduce CO and CH4 emissions.
CNG is also favoured due to its cost-effectiveness. In India, for example, the running cost of CNG is INR 2.1 per kilometre, while the running cost for petrol is INR 5 per kilometre. This has led to a rapid increase in the domestic sales of CNG-powered vehicles in the country, with the Indian government targeting to replace all conventional fuel vehicles with CNG automobiles.
However, one drawback of CNG vehicles is their shorter driving range compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. CNG passenger cars typically have a driving range of 350 to 450 kilometres, which is about 50% shorter than that of regular gasoline vehicles. This limitation has restricted the use of CNG to mainly passenger cars and city buses. Nevertheless, technological advancements, such as direct injection technology, turbocharging, and hybridization, can improve the vehicle range and further reduce emissions.
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Hydrogen fuel cells can be emissions-free
The least polluting fossil fuel for vehicles is compressed natural gas (CNG). However, hydrogen fuel cells, which can be used in fuel cell electric vehicles, are a potentially emissions-free alternative fuel.
Hydrogen fuel is rapidly gaining popularity in the energy industry as a clean alternative to gas and electricity. It is considered a zero-emissions fuel and is cleaner than internal combustion engines that run on propane, gas, and diesel. Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water vapour and warm air, and no harmful substances. Hydrogen fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical reaction that generates electricity, heat, and water, with no combustion or particulate matter.
Hydrogen can be produced from diverse domestic resources with the potential for near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. It can be produced from natural gas, coal, solar energy, wind, and biomass. If the electricity used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis comes from renewable resources, electrolysis can create hydrogen fuel without releasing any carbon emissions. This makes hydrogen fuel net-zero from a carbon standpoint.
However, it is important to note that the process of producing hydrogen fuel and transporting it can result in carbon emissions, depending on the energy source and method of generation. Hydrogen is currently produced most efficiently and cost-effectively through Steam Methane Reformation (SMR), which requires methane, usually from natural gas, and does produce carbon emissions. Additionally, storing hydrogen can be challenging due to its low energy content by volume, requiring high pressures, low temperatures, or chemical processes for compact storage.
Despite these challenges, hydrogen fuel cells hold promise for growth in the transportation energy sector. Hydrogen fuel cells can provide emission-free backup power, as demonstrated by Microsoft's prototype three-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell system. Hydrogen's ability to store excess energy from wind and solar farms can also help cities transition to 100% renewable energy.
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Natural gas emits less carbon than gasoline
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is primarily methane (CH4) and has a higher energy content compared to other fuels. This means that it emits less carbon dioxide (CO2) relative to its energy content. For instance, for every 1 million BTU consumed, more than 200 pounds of CO2 are produced from coal, while natural gas produces slightly less than 160 pounds.
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a type of natural gas that is used in vehicles and emits significantly less pollution directly than gasoline or oil when combusted. CNG vehicles are also quieter and produce less noise pollution. Additionally, natural gas emits no ash, almost no sulfur, and no toxic metals or fine particles, which can cause respiratory diseases and cardiovascular symptoms.
Natural gas can also come from renewable sources, such as biomethane, which is chemically identical to fossil-based natural gas but produces even fewer GHG emissions throughout its lifecycle. Mixing small amounts of biomethane with fossil natural gas can therefore provide significant benefits in terms of GHG emissions.
However, it is important to note that there are some environmental concerns associated with producing natural gas, such as the large amounts of water required for hydraulic fracturing, which can affect aquatic habitats and water availability for other uses. Additionally, if not properly managed, hazardous chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluid could be released through spills, leaks, or faulty well construction.
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Electric vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Electric vehicles (EVs) are an important part of meeting global goals on climate change. They are featured prominently in mitigation pathways that aim to limit warming to well below 2°C or 1.5°C, in line with the Paris Agreement's targets. While it is true that the production of an EV causes more pollution than a gasoline-powered car, this difference is erased as the vehicle is used. This is because, although EVs may not emit greenhouse gases from their tailpipes, some emissions are created when building and charging them. However, they are still a lower-emissions option than cars with internal combustion engines.
A study by the University of Michigan found that the pollution equation evens out between 1.4 and 1.5 years for sedans, 1.6 to 1.9 years for SUVs, and about 1.6 years for pickup trucks. Furthermore, in 200,000 miles of driving, a typical internal combustion vehicle would emit 66 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, while a battery-electric vehicle would emit 39 tons over the same distance. This means that the higher emissions caused by battery manufacturing are more than offset by the lower emissions from driving an electric vehicle.
In addition, the greater the use of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, and hydropower, the greater the reduction in emissions. This is because marginal emissions primarily come from fossil fuel plants, so emission reductions for EV charging will occur when gas displaces coal or when widespread EV adoption requires new low-carbon electricity generation facilities to meet demand. Smart planning for how and when to charge EVs can also help to ensure that the additional electricity demand can be met with power plants that would be built anyway.
Overall, while EVs may not be a "panacea" for climate change, they are an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
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Biodiesel is a renewable alternative
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is the least polluting fossil fuel for vehicles. However, biodiesel is a renewable alternative to fossil fuels for vehicles that is derived from biological materials such as food crops, crop residues, forest residues, animal wastes, and landfills. Biodiesel can be made from any plant oil, animal oil, or even recycled cooking oil. In the U.S., soybean oil is used for about 90% of biodiesel production, while canola oil and rapeseed oil are the most common feedstocks for making biodiesel in Canada and Western Europe, respectively.
Biodiesel is produced by transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats. It meets the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification D6751 and is approved for blending with petroleum diesel/distillate. Biodiesel can be blended at any level with petrodiesel. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine in 1897, experimented with using vegetable oil as fuel in his engines. The fuel made from vegetable oils and animal fats that we call biodiesel today is named after him because it is mostly used in diesel engines.
Other renewable biofuels include renewable jet fuel, renewable naphtha, renewable gasoline, renewable propane, and other emerging biofuels. Renewable jet fuel may be called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), alternative jet fuel (AJF), or biojet depending on the context or fuel standard under which it is used.
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Frequently asked questions
CNG (compressed) natural gas is the least polluting fossil fuel for vehicles. It emits up to 25% less carbon per unit of energy than conventional gasoline.
Examples of alternative fuels include biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, and propane.
Using alternative fuels can help improve efficiency, cut costs, and reduce emissions. For example, electric vehicles have superior efficiency in converting electricity into mechanical power, resulting in reduced fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Plug-in hybrid cars and other electric drive vehicles are a promising option for reducing US dependence on oil and lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.
Hydrogen fuel cells are a clean, reliable, quiet, and efficient source of high-quality electric power. They produce electricity through an electrochemical process, with water and heat as the only by-products.
