Alternative Fuel Source Conversions For Cars

In these days of rising fuel costs, and environmental concerns associated with the emissions traditional vehicles produce, many of us are looking for alternative fuel source conversions for cars. Whilst there are already several choices for new vehicles, that are both cheaper to run and low emission too, buying a brand new vehicle is not a viable option for most of us due to the cost. The good news is there are many things we can all do to our current vehicle to make it greener, and also make it less demanding on our pocket when it comes to filling it with fuel. Below are four of the most common options.

1. Bio Fuel:

Bio alternatives to fossil fuel are by far the easiest way to go. They are made from renewable sources, and there are options available for both petrol and diesel cars.

A petrol car can run on ethanol or an ethanol and petrol mix. A conversion for it to run on pure ethanol will require modification to the engine's compression ratio and other adjustments, although a modern gasoline engine can run on a blend containing 20% ethanol without change.

A diesel car can use bio-diesel, this is a form of fuel produced using vegetable based oils. A pure bio-diesel burning engine produces 80% less emissions, and a modern diesel engine can use it without modification. Older engines will need to be converted, as the natural rubber seals in them will be degraded over time.

Both ethanol blend gasoline and bio-diesel are currently available from many gas stations, so you could make the switch today.

2. Compressed Gas:

Most petrol engines can run on compressed gas, the gas used is called LPG or liquid petroleum gas. It is produced as a byproduct of crude oil distillation, however it can also be produced synthetically.

To use this type of gas your vehicle will need to be converted. Usually the fuel tank will be replaced with a cylinder to hold the fuel, and a gas regulator will be fitted to the engine. The car will still have its traditional fuel tank, and will still start using normal fuel, this is because it takes time for the gas to feed in, which can cause starting problems especially when the engine is cold. If you are a keen DIY mechanic you can get a kit and do this conversion yourself.

3. Hydrogen:

There are kits available that you can fit to your car which produce hydrogen from water. They do this through a process called electrolysis. This gadget is then fed into the fuel flow, and the theory is that this hydrogen gas is burned by the engine and increases your fuel economy. The effectiveness of these systems are doubtful, and you are better off following another route.

4. Pure Electric:

The last option is to convert your current car to electric. Home kits and plans are available to help you to do this. Basically the engine of your car is replaced by an electric motor, and the fuel tank is replaced by a bank of rechargeable batteries. If you feel that the task is too much for you to complete on your own, then you can get this done professionally.

The accelerator pedal becomes a switch, and as an electric motor produces full torque from the start, no gear box is needed. As well as this there is no cooling system or oil lubrication required. Due to this fact, an added advantage of an electric vehicle is the reduced maintenance costs, in addition to lower fuel costs.

As you can see there are several choices open to you when considering alternative fuel source conversions for cars. The one you choose will depend on your available funds, as well as the way you use your vehicle. Whatever method you choose should pay for itself in cost savings on fuel over time, and you will have the satisfaction that you are doing your bit for a cleaner and greener planet.

Home Electric Car Conversion:

Did you know that most cars or trucks can be converted into an electric vehicle (EV)? Find the most comprehensive, and easy to follow, electric car conversion plans, by visiting our how to build an electric car site at www.how-to-build-an-electric-car.blogspot.com/.

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Less Toxins and Noise Pollution - Electric Car Conversions

In these times of concern for the Earth's overall health people are seeking a variety of methods to help reduce, or even eliminate, dependence on fossil fuels and as a result decrease the amount of pollution released into the atmosphere.

One rather unique method of helping to reduce the poisonous emissions is to convert their gasoline powered engines, which generate a great deal of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere, into electric engines which release almost no toxins whatsoever into the air we breathe. These electric car conversions generally cost between $5,000 and $10,000 depending on the car and the quality of the parts used in the conversion process. There is a wide array of electric car conversion kits available on the market with even more in production and in the initial planning stages, which may result in significant decreased in this cost while maintaining a reasonable level of quality and reliability. Virtually all electric car conversion kits have two elements in common regardless of their cost: a DC controller and a DC motor. Surprisingly, most of the controllers and motors used in these electric car conversions come from the forklift industry. Another common factor is that most conversion kits rely on manual transmission engines rather than standard engines.

Another choice that must be made when deciding to convert a gas powered engine to an electric motor is what the level of voltage output should be. Most electric cars operate between 96 and 192 volts. The voltage output determines how many batteries will be required and also what type of motor will be necessary. At the moment there are essentially three types of batteries available for electric car conversions: golf cart batteries, high-performance sealed batteries, and marine deep-cycle lead-acid batteries. One major advantage of the latter type of battery is that they are very cost effective and can be purchased nearly anywhere including most Walmarts. The electrolyte for these batteries is usually either gelled, absorbed glass mat (AGM), or flooded. The flooded electrolyte battery is the cheapest on the market; however it also has a tendency to leak power.

There are about 17 steps in the conversion process, all of which can be performed by someone with a reasonable degree of engine knowledge and are frequently carried out in backyards around the country. The starting point is, obviously, removing the gas system, engine, exhaust system, clutch, and sometimes the radiator. The biggest issue in completing an electric car conversion is often the wiring as this is the biggest and most complicated task of the procedure. However, once the conversion is accomplished, there are no external differences between a gas powered engine driven car and an electric car conversion except for re-fueling and engine noise. While gas powered engines contribute to both emission and noise pollution, electric cars do not. Just imagine a time could be coming when you return home from work and plug your newly converted electric car into your solar or wind generated electric system and don't have to worry about paying high gas prices or paying for electricity power because you are completely self-sufficient in this regard!

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