Main topic information 1
Vocabulary/new concepts:
Fossil fuels: fuels formed from the remains of dead plants and animals that have been buried underground for millions of years. They are a non-renewable source of energy, meaning they cannot be replaced once they are depleted. These are oil, natural gas and coal.
Biomass: organic material, one of the renewable energy sources (RES) and one of the most valuable resources on Earth. Biomass can come from a variety of sources, including wood, agricultural and food waste. It is mostly produced from plants, including algae, trees and seeds, and from organic waste products of humans, animals and micro-organisms. It can be used to produce fuel, energy and raw materials.
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How are modern cars powered?
The different types of power sources for modern cars are:
- Internal combustion engines (ICEs) are the most common type of automotive engine. They use gasoline or diesel fuel to create a rapid explosive burn that drives the pistons in the engine, generating mechanical work.
- Electric motors are powered by electricity that is stored in a battery.
- Fuel cells are devices that convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. The electricity is then used to power the electric motor.
- Hybrid cars use a combination of ICE and electric motors. The ICE powers the car when it is moving at high speed, while the electric motor powers it when it is moving at low speed or when it is stopped.
The different energy sources in the car
The most common type of energy source is the first – the ICE. Recently, other categories are also becoming more popular and in demand, but due to their high prices, people prefer to choose ICE cars (for now).
(ICE) cars are powered by different types of fuel, such as:
- Gasoline: this is the most common fuel used in ICEs. It is a petroleum-based fuel that consists of a mixture of hydrocarbons.
- Diesel fuel: a liquid petroleum-based product/fuel that consists of heavier hydrocarbons than gasoline.
- Natural gas: a fossil fuel, a mixture of gases formed in the Earth’s interior, consisting of methane and other hydrocarbons.
- Propane is a colourless gaseous fuel that consists of propane and butane.
- Ethanol: is a renewable fuel produced from corn or other biomass.
- Biodiesel: is a renewable fuel produced from vegetable oils or animal fats.
The type of fuel an ICE uses depends on several factors including the availability of the fuel on the market, its price and the environmental impact of the fuel.
Gasoline is the most common fuel used in ICEs as it is widely available and relatively cheap. However, petrol is a fossil fuel and its use contributes to climate change. Diesel is also a fossil fuel but is more energy efficient than petrol. Natural gas is a cleaner fuel than petrol or diesel and is becoming more widely available. Propane is an alternative to petrol or diesel, emits less harmful emissions than petrol and does not emit soot like diesel. It is often used in vehicles such as taxis, buses, and forklifts as it has lower fuel consumption. Ethanol and biodiesel are renewable fuels, but they are often more expensive than petrol or diesel.
Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of dead plants and animals that have been buried underground for millions of years. They are a non-renewable source of energy, which means they cannot be replaced once they are depleted. These are oil, natural gas and coal.
