Vehicle Biofuels Evaluation

Figure 1 – Energy storage comparison of transportation fuels [US EIA].

Problem

Evaluate the sustainability, practicality, and production of biofuels for vehicle propulsion applications.

Process

1. Research available sources ethanol- and oil-based biofuels and their environmental impacts.
2. Compile theoretical ethanol yields for major feedstocks and oil production densities from major crops.
3. Compare energy balances for various sources of biodiesel and ethanol.
4. Research energy densities of alternative fuels compared to gasoline and diesel fuel.
5. Evaluate the practicality of substituting fossil fuels with biofuels for vehicles based on biofuel production land requirements, energy density limitations, and cost differentials.

Product

Table 1 – Theoretical ethanol yields of selected feedstocks.

Table 2 – Annual biological oil production densities for common crops.

Table 3 – Energy balances of common biofuels.