| For many years now there has been an increasing | | | | biofuels. In 2008 there are currently only a handful |
| investment in the quest for greener cars. This has | | | | of biofuel filling stations in the UK, compared to |
| mainly focused on fuel and how we can find a | | | | over 1,000 in Sweden, where the government |
| cheaper and cleaner alternative to the tradition of | | | | has introduced a number of financial incentives for |
| petrol and diesel, as is currently used by hundreds | | | | owners of cars running on biofuel. |
| of millions of cars across the world. | | | | While the jury may still be out on the |
| In recent years, Liquefied Petroleum Gas - LPG as | | | | environmental and social impact of biofuels, many |
| it's most commonly known - has made some | | | | people are turning to electric cars as a green |
| inroads into the domestic vehicle fuel market. It | | | | alternative to petrol and diesel. Vehicles powered |
| contains less harmful emissions than petrol and | | | | by electricity have some restrictions in the speed |
| diesel and can cut your fuel bills by around 50%. | | | | and distance they can travel before needing to be |
| It's also possible to convert most current vehicles | | | | recharged. While this excludes them from long |
| to run on LPG; however, LPG is not yet available | | | | distance driving, on the flip side it makes them |
| on every forecourt in the UK. | | | | ideal for getting around a city and with zero |
| In recent times a lot of research has gone into | | | | emissions. From an economic perspective they |
| biofuels made from food crops such as maize, | | | | also bring about a number of financial benefits. |
| wheat and rapeseed. The green credentials of | | | | With vehicle manufacturers such as Mitsubishi and |
| biofuels lie in the theory that the CO2 emissions | | | | Subaru bringing out electric powered cars, the |
| from a vehicle using biofuel are effectively offset | | | | industry is beginning to show signs they are in |
| by the amount of gas the crops took in when | | | | favour of this change in how consumers travel on |
| they were growing, therefore making emissions | | | | their journeys. Furthermore, as the technology |
| carbon neutral; but this is an area that is still being | | | | behind the batteries becomes more advanced, |
| debated. | | | | the popularity of electric cars could soon be on |
| Biofuels are not without controversy though and | | | | the rise across the globe. |
| many environmental organisations are concerned | | | | The world of motoring is undoubtedly changing; |
| about the sustainable use of food crops as fuel | | | | from plug-in electric cars, being able to get car |
| sources and how this will affect those countries | | | | insurance online and even pay as you go |
| which rely heavily on these crops for income, and | | | | motorways in the form of toll booths. All of these |
| more important as a main source for food. | | | | changes have only really come to the fore in |
| By 2010, the UK government has said it wants to | | | | recent years, so who knows what the future |
| see 5% of all fuel in the country coming from | | | | may hold for vehicles and the environment? |