Fuel

Fossil?

Disadvantages

Advantages

Production cost

Gasoline and diesel

Yes

Causes oxidant, particulate and carbon monoxide air pollution, Causes material damage from nitric acid deposition

Liquid

Market supply and demand balance

Natural gas

Yes

About one-half of the pollution of gasoline and diesel

Market supply and demand balance

Methanol

Yes (from partial oxidation of methane)

Poison, Attacks metal, plastic and rubber, Fire hazard, vapor is heavier than air and invisible

Liquid

Mixes with gasoline

Ethanol

Yes (the fuel required to grow the corn and distill the alcohol exceed the ethanol fuel gained)

Market share is due to tax incentives

Liquid

Mixes with gasoline

Costs more to produce than it saves (Profit depends on tax breaks)

Photovoltaic

No

No power produced without sunshine

No emissions

Most expensive source of electricity

Hydrogen (a fossil fuel if produced from a fossil source, e.g. methane from a well)

No

Hydrogen’s flame speed is too fast for present engine and industrial process burners

Least polluting gas fuel, especially in fuel cells

Cannot be produced below electrical power costs

TrueFuel 1 – present product

50% Yes (carbon from coal or tar)

50% No (hydrogen from water)

CO is toxic if leaked

Chemical and heat content similar to common Syngas

Good flame speed for present gas turbines

To be determined

Will be mitigated by distributed production and tipping fees for feedstocks

TrueFuel 2 – (future product)

No (all hydrogen and carbon from non-fossil)