Gasoline vs. Alternative Fuel Sources: Why Gasoline Wins
No one can deny that gasoline has become a necessary commodity for almost every household throughout the country. For this reason, people nervously watch for changes in gasoline prices.
Have you ever observed how the rise and fall of gas prices affect the average American? I am often amused at people’s behavior toward the fluctuation of this fuel source. Reactions range from condemning trucks and SUV’s to blaming the government.
One of the more constructive ways we can respond to the increase in gasoline prices is to explore alternative energy sources that we can tap into. Surprisingly, many of our alternative energy options have been available for years. It is only recently when gas prices have more than doubled, that people are revisiting ignored science to address our problems.
Though promising, it will take a while before any of these alternative fuel sources take center stage. Here are a few reasons why gasoline and yeah, diesel, are undoubtedly the unbeaten champions when it comes to powering our cars.
Price, Price, Price: Savings for the Wealthy?
When all is said and done, everything comes down to price. Okay, so gasoline might be more expensive than some other alternative sources of fuel. However, looking at the big picture, it is actually more economical to have your car run on gasoline than any other alternative fuel source available. Here’s why. Specialized Auto parts and components needed to convert a vehicle’s fuel source tend to be very expensive. These costs do not even include the maintenance of these contraptions or the price of technical specialists needed to repair problems that might arise. It’s hard enough to find a good mechanic nowadays, imagine if one has to find a rocket scientist to just make your car work. Hybrid cars are far more expensive as well. I saw the proto-type for a Hybrid Hydrogen ion run BMW the other day which costs significantly more than a than a standard gasoline car of the same type and performance. I find it ironic that those who can afford these expensive money saving technologies are not the ones who really need them. In the long run, the inconvenience and costs associated with specialized car parts and maintenance for an alternative fuel driven vehicle far outweigh any savings on fuel.
Support: More Mechanics than Einsteins
Why was the Betamax phased out? Why did the bulkier VHS systems in the early nineties win even though Betamax were more compact and better designed? Who cares! What we do know is that the industry and society chose VHS as the standard. Eventually all support and development turned to VHS, leaving those Betamax groupies with something more to put in storage. It is the same with the current status of alternative fuel cars. Unfortunately, there is just no support for the new technology being introduced to the market right now making a transition to a new standard impossible.
I also have noticed that every new alternative fuel source being introduced in modern cars still relies in some way on gasoline (gasoline-LNG, electricity-gasoline). This is evidence that the these alternative sources are not sufficient yet or reliable enough by themselves.
Performance: The Baby
Though some of the other fuel sources are cheaper and produce less pollution, I still have yet to see an alternative fuel source that exceeds, or even just equals the performance of a gasoline driven car. I am not saying that we might not have them in the future, but the truth is that the technology used to harness these other sources are still in their infancy. We smile as we imagine filling our tanks up with water from the hose. However, as of the moment, nothing is as effective or fully functional as gas. These alternatives still need nurturing and are presently very costly to maintain. We can’t depend on them to be a reliable option.
I support the exploration of alternative fuel sources. In fact, it even excites me a little. However, I refuse to be the next Betamax victim by letting my excitement get ahead of me. It seems society is not quite ready to adopt another standard because the options don’t exist and the stakes are much higher than a video tape. When I need something and it involves my car, I’d prefer to take the big boys with me and let the baby be.
*Photo by johnno30 via flickr.com
