Fuels for Automobiles: The Sustainable Future

Abstract

The future of internal combustion engine-powered automobiles hangs in the balance unless clean fuels are available in commercial quantities. Electricity-powered vehicles will displace the internal combustion engine-powered automobiles. However, electricity-powered vehicles are yet to meet some of the automobile demands. A paradigm shift with attendant infrastructural change is necessary for its adoption. Synthetic fuels promise to be the solution. Their invention dates back to the early twentieth century when the concern was not about climate change. The search for alternative fuels later metamorphosed to when fossil fuels reserve depletion and petroleum derivatives cost became a concern. The alternatives were made available in biofuels. The prevailing challenge is now climate change. It is the consequence of the emission of greenhouse gases from the combustion of petroleum derivatives in automobiles. Synthetic fuels show the potential of coming to the rescue despite the prevailing hurdles. The future holds a potential promise of converting greenhouse gas (CO2) to liquid fuels that will allow little or no disruptions to the current transportation infrastructure network. It is, therefore, necessary to encourage further studies on the production of synthetic fuels. The environmental and economic benefits of commercially available synthetic fuels promise to be enormous.