GreenCab is committed to a responsible and sustainable travel industry and as such uses the following greener fuels to drive our engines in our journey towards zero tailpipe emissions
- Biodiesel – Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl (methyl, propyl or ethyl) esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids (e.g., vegetable oil, animal fat (tallow)) with an alcohol. Vehicles running on biodiesel can achieve Co2 savings of between 15% and 90% compared to normal diesel vehicles. GreenCab utilised a B50 blend of Diesel and used cooking oil. (Sources Biodiesel.org and Green America Today)
and
- LPG – Liquefied petroleum gas (also called LPG, GPL, LP Gas, or autogas) is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in vehicles. It burns more cleanly than petrol or fuel-oil and is especially free of the particulates from the latter. At high-loads, such as taxi, limousine or shuttle services, LPG can achieve Co2 savings of up to 12% compared to normal petrol vehicles. (Source DEFRA)
Other ways of greening one’s transport include:
- Hybrids – A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle, or better performance. Hybrids can achieve Co2 savings of between 24% and 41% compared to normal petrol vehicles. (Source DEFRA)
- Ethanol/flex-fuel – Ethanol is an alcohol made by fermenting the sugar components of plant materials and it is made mostly from sugar and starch crops. Ethanol can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a gasoline additive to increase octane and improve vehicle emissions. E85 (ethanol/flex-fuel) is an alcohol fuel mixture that typically contains a mixture of up to 85% denatured fuel ethanol and gasoline or other hydrocarbon (HC) by volume. Ethanol/flex-fuel vehicles can achieve Co2 savings of between 19% and 86%. (Source AFDC)
- Fuel cell/hydrogen – A Fuel cell vehicle or FC vehicle (FCV) is a type of hydrogen vehicle which uses a fuel cell to produce its on-board motive power. Fuel cells create electricity to power an electric motor using hydrogen or a reformed hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen from the air. Fuel cell/hydrogen vehicles effectively produce zero Co2 emissions, as the only byproducts are water and heat. (Source Fuelcells.org)
- Electric – An electric vehicle (EV), also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. Electric vehicles differ from fossil fuel-powered vehicles in that the electricity they consume can be generated from a wide range of sources. Electric fuels effectively produce zero Co2 emissions. (Source Electro Automotive)
- CNG – Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline (petrol), diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill (natural gas is lighter than air, and disperses quickly when released). CNG may also be mixed with biogas, produced from landfills or wastewater, which doesn’t increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. CNG can achieve Co2 savings of up to 12% compared to normal petrol vehicles. (Source DEFRA)
- Euro 4/5/6 – European emission standards define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in EU member states. Vehicles with direct injection engines will be subject to a limit of 0.005 g/km for Euro 5 and Euro 6. Euro 4/5/6 standard vehicles can achieve Co2 savings of between 55% and 63% compared to Euro 1/2/3 standard vehicles. (Source Dieselnet)
* All fuel/engine-type descriptions are courtesy of Wikipedia.