As with everything, there are downsides too. Here are some disadvantages in the use of Biofuel:

• Loss of Biodiversity is one of the main concerns. As far as carbon emission savings go, biofuels are effective but with its production comes adoption of more land to produce crops. This in turn may cause a lot of species to lose their natural habitats. This is especially true in most developing Asian countries where raw products for biofuel are grown.
• Another concern is the decrease in food production. If biofuels prove to be more significant to farmers, they may produce more crops than food, which in turn may cause a rise in food prices and ultimately to inflation.
• In 2007, a study conducted by scientists from the UK, Austria, Germany and the USA has reported that the burning of rapeseed or corn can contribute to nitrous oxide emissions.
• Many first generation biofuel are not sustainable. As of now, scientists are looking at alternatives such as hydrogen and compressed air – sustainable sources that many governments are now supporting.

Although it is known that biodiesel can be used in virtually all diesel engines, car manufacturers beg to disagree. They said that there are certain parts of a diesel powered engine that they do not recommend to run on other types of biodiesel, especially the higher blends. The general rule is that biodiesel should be blended with regular diesel for proper usage. However, car manufacturers such as Volkswagen, SEAT, Audi and Skoda all use 100% biodiesel made from rapeseed upon specification of EN14214.

With the rise of ethanol and biodiesel production in the years 200-2005, clearly biofuels are a gaining popularity. This is largely manifested by petrol stations in which a mix of up to 5 percent biofuel is already included in diesel. But it can be noted that biodiesel made from cooking oil can easily freeze in cold weather, so it is recommended that no more than 50 percent is expected.

Biofuel has been touted as a major energy-saving product which is derived from any solid, liquid or gas carbon source that is easily renewable and replenished. One of the biomass products it is produced from are plants. One of the most pressing concerns that arise from making biofuel is how to produce them in liquid form in order to use for transportation. Several steps have been taken in order to meet the needed supply of flora for this purpose. Here are some of them:

• Grow Plants – Plants that are naturally rich in oils can be grown in order to produce bio-diesel which is a by-product of plant oils being burned by diesel. Such plants considered for this are oil palm, jatropha, algae and soybeans.
• Grow sugar crops or starch – Among these are crops such as sugar cane, corn, and maize. With these, ethanol is derived through a process of fermenting yeast.
• Woods – Methanol, ethanol and woodgas are  biofuels that are  produced from woods.

The Aachen University and European Aluminum Association conducted a recent study that focused on the many different parts that compose a regular vehicle, and how various materials can be utilized in order to provide a more cost-efficient machine to consumers. It was found that aluminum can greatly decrease the weight of the vehicle by 40%. In addition to this, fuel consumption rates came at 10%, while still preserving quality safety measures.

Although the research concluded that aluminum could be used to reduce the weight of the vehicle without compromising structure integrity, only 11% of the steel parts can be replaced with the lighter material. This is because 40% of the 26 parts tested, could not possibly be made thinner and still function optimally. The Aluminum Association Transportation Group however, remains positive that with further studies, weight savings could be possible by using aluminum.

Three years ago, when the price of gasoline shot past $4 a gallon, Detroit’s automakers were trapped.
They could not sell trucks that had long been the bread and butter and profit generators of the Big three. With rising gasoline prices and scant offerings in the small-vehicle segment, Detroit’s sales plunged even before the financial crises invaded in September 2008.
Last week oil passed $100 a barrel, and gasoline prices rose to $3.5 a gallon in some markets. However, this time the big three are in a better position to make money.
From the Chevrolet Cruze to the Ford Fiesta to the upcoming Fiat 500 and recent coming hybrids, there are plenty of fuel-efficient alternatives in multiple segments from many automakers. Everybody is emphasizing on fuel economy and “40 mpg on the highway” has become a new industrial catchphrase.
A big winner in the new strategy is Ford, which made a decision to downsize its engines and shrink its lineup with fun-to-drive cars. Ford’s position has been ratified by CEO Mullaly’s strategy to offer a fuel- efficient vehicle in nearly every segment. Some questioned his vision to transform the Michigan factory that once produced profit-rich Expeditions into a factory that produces multiple versions of the Focus small-car platform. The industry on a whole is on the right track and the oil price is no longer an inverse indicator of Detroit’s future.

Ford’s President of the Americas, Mark Fields, countered Paul Taylor, chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) when he declared that a $4.50 price could mark the tipping point of consumers going into eco-friendly vehicles. Fields believes that a $4 price is enough for people to become aware and find better ways and options in getting by.

He stated that “when it starts getting over $4 a gallon or gets to triple digits when you fill up your tank, which catches people’s attention.”

It is fortunate however, that Ford has released its SE sedan in the form of Ford Focus which includes a super fuel economy package return of 40 miles per gallon highway. Ford may enjoy their success in this endeavor, as more and more consumers struggle to keep up with soaring gas prices, forcing them to settle with efficient, hybrid powered cars in the end.

GridPoint has just invested around $120 million in accumulated funds to purchase the V2Green electric car charging facilities and software. The company, GridPoint, specialises in the distribution of software that helps to power multiple generating units, in this case, electric car charging outlets. The software is used to control the distribution of electricity from port to car, and eliminates any risk to the car.

The reason for this purchase was to eliminate electricity grid ‘taxing’, which means that in peak times the number of electric cars that are plugged in to recharge would create a demand for too much electricity, so eventually more electric power plants would need to be built. The V2Green software is designed to assist the already present power grid to cope with all this extra energy that is needed.

It is thought that this kind of high demand on the power grid is not going to become much of an issue until late 2010 or early 2011, which is when most of the new electric cars go into wide distribution. The hype over the poor condition of the O-zone layer and other environmental concerns is thought to push electric car sales to an all time high, making the V2Green a necessity, mainly in the U.S. and China.

Chrysler, whilst the company has recently revealed it’s electric car production plans, as previously stated in one of my other posts, the plans have been pushed forward! It is apparent that Chrysler is now going to exhibit a line of prototype electric cars as soon as next week.

The company is focusing more on their business strategies in their show to dealers of Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler. The exhibition will take place via videoconference across over 100 movie theaters all around the U.S.A. This will pull Chrysler to the front in the run up to 2010, when most of the new electric cars are released from all of the biggest companies, and some of the older ‘pioneers’ of the electric car.

This new line of electric cars has been hailed as the new generation of electric cars. As they are just some more plug-in hybrids, they are not the most environmentally friendly cars, although they are very technologically advanced…watch this space!!!

Everyone is hearing the buzz around the new Chevrolet Volt. Countless news articles have been written about it, it is mentioned in dozens of blogs etc, but how good is it? Nobody seems to want to make any comments on how good the fuel economy is.

Stepping back slightly, for those who don’t know, the Chevrolet Volt is the newest offering from the motoring industry giants, GM. The Volt is powered by a Lithium-Ion battery combined with an internal combustion engine. Whilst the car is a plug-in hybrid, the combustion engine does still charge the battery.

It is always good news when a motor company embarks on an electric venture, but companies cannot seem to move out of the hybrid shadow. Each year companies reveal plans for new hybrids. Hybrids, hybrids hybrids, when are we going to hear the news of a fully electric powered Volt that can reach speeds of up to 150mph and only needs recharging every 100 miles. Well, for the time being, the technology has not yet been adapted.

Coming back to the Volt, set to arrive in 2010, the combustion engine does have a reasonable fuel economy, although the Toyota alternative, which has been available for some time now, has a better fuel economy. It just seems like GM are having some troubles trying to move away from their usual muscle cars, so they need a more powerful engine, with a less than amazing fuel economy rating.

 Daimler AG, the German car manufacturers and development section has released news that they have already begun creating lithium powered cars with the car giants Mercedes. This news was welcomed by German natives as well as the industry on a more international scale. The news was shortly followed by some even better news.

The company has joined up with it’s research and development section ‘RWE AG’ in the hope of developing and planting over five hundred electric car recharging points across Berlin. This means that anybody that owns a fully electric car could potentially recharge their car anywhere. The access points are going to be planted at private housing areas, public car parks, alongside gas stations and around heavy tourist areas.

This new initiative means that Berlin is going to be the first major city to follow in the footsteps of Tokyo, Japan, whos government has already kick-started plans to have the city filled with electric car charging ports by late 2009. In Berlin, the work is likely to be completely finished, and all ports will be fully operational by the year 2010, if everything goes to plan.

The financial side of things is looking good also, as the German government has stated that they will try to help in any way they can.