Energy and environmental assessment of road transport fuels

Abstract

This paper assesses the conventional and alternative fuels for road transport from the energy and environmental viewpoints. Energy security, the potential supplies of petroleum and feedstocks for alternative fuels, and existing alternative fuel programmes are discussed. A review of the formation of the main vehicular pollutants is given and comparisons of the emissions from road vehicles using conventional and alternative fuels are made. Comparisons are also made among six transport fuel options by considering several factors that influence choice, and a possible long-term development in road transport energy consumption by fuel type is presented.