| The search for alternative fuels to drive our cars has | | | | Brazil has, in fact, been running flexible fuel vehicles in |
| been caused by several realisations which have | | | | some capacity for more than thirty years. Initially this |
| occurred at different times. Some time ago it was | | | | was done by mixing 20% of ethanol with 80% of |
| recognised that fossil fuels, although an excellent | | | | gasoline. However, as technologies have improved, |
| short term source of energy, light and heat, did not | | | | the stage is being reached where numerous vehicles |
| burn cleanly and that their use caused pollution of a | | | | in Brazil run mostly or entirely on ethanol. This is not |
| kind that, if left unchecked, could have dangerous | | | | the end point, of course, as there are now moves |
| consequences for our planet. It is equally recognised | | | | afoot to develop flex-fueled motorcycles as well. |
| that fossil fuels are nonrenewable. Although this may | | | | Indeed, the first of these is already on the market |
| not be an immediate problem – there is certainly | | | | – the Honda CG 150 Titan Mix. |
| enough fuel there in order to power your car to | | | | It may surprise many to learn the identity of the |
| work tomorrow – the rate at which we are using | | | | country that used most ethanol fuel in the world last |
| fossil fuels means that there will come a point when | | | | year. That country was the United States of |
| there is nothing left. | | | | America. This should come as no major surprise, |
| It is reaching the point where alternative fuel sources | | | | perhaps, as the Quadricycle - the first ever motor |
| are no longer simply something that are spoken | | | | car developed by Henry Ford, in advance of his |
| about by environmental campaigners, and discussed | | | | Model T - ran on ethanol. Even the Model T itself |
| idly by well-meaning consumers who nonetheless still | | | | was capable of running on a mix of ethanol and |
| use fossil fuels. It has reached the stage where | | | | gasoline. |
| alternative fuels are something necessary and | | | | Some cities and states in the US now mandate the |
| indispensable if we are not to exhaust the natural | | | | use of ethanol – usually gleaned from crops such |
| resources that exist under the surface of the earth. | | | | as sugar cane and corn – in the fuels sold by |
| At some stage, the oil companies are going to run | | | | their filling stations. At the present time it is felt that |
| out of places to drill – and when they do, we had | | | | the fuel is best used in light vehicles and has |
| better be prepared. This recognition is dawning more | | | | problems driving anything more substantial than a |
| slowly in some areas of the world than in others. One | | | | 4x4. Nonetheless, it is hoped that the appliance of |
| place where the importance of alternative fuelling | | | | science can make the use of ethanol more prominent |
| methods is recognised is Brazil, where now the | | | | and usher in an age when we no longer need to rely |
| majority of newly-sold automobiles run on flexible | | | | on fossil fuels. That day is getting closer, but is not |
| fuels. | | | | here yet. |