Sustainable Mobility, Future Fuels, and the Periodic Table

Providing sustainable mobility is a major challenge that will require new vehicle and fuel technologies. Alternative and future fuels are the subject of considerable research and public interest. A simple approach is presented that can be used in science education lectures at the high school or unde...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2013-04, Vol.90 (4), p.440-445
Main Authors: Wallington, Timothy J, Anderson, James E, Siegel, Donald J, Tamor, Michael A, Mueller, Sherry A, Winkler, Sandra L, Nielsen, Ole J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical composition
Chemical elements
Chemical fuels
Chemistry
Climate
Climate change
College Science
College students
Conservation (Concept)
Electricity
Emissions
Energy Conservation
Energy storage
Environmental Education
Fuel Consumption
Fuels
Gaseous fuels
Gases
Gravimetry
High Schools
Hydrocarbons
Hydrogen ion concentration
Mobility
Organic chemistry
Periodic table
Public concern
Science education
Science Instruction
Scientific Principles
Secondary School Science
Sustainability
Transportation
Undergraduate Study
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Summary:Providing sustainable mobility is a major challenge that will require new vehicle and fuel technologies. Alternative and future fuels are the subject of considerable research and public interest. A simple approach is presented that can be used in science education lectures at the high school or undergraduate level to provide students with an understanding of the elemental composition of future fuels. Starting from key fuel requirements and overlaying the chemical trends evident in the periodic table, it can be demonstrated that future chemical fuels will be based on three elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Liquid hydrocarbons are the most convenient transportation fuels because of their physical state (easier to handle than gases or solids) and their high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities. Challenges remain for storage of electricity and gaseous fuels. Recognizing the need to address climate change driven by increasing emissions of CO2, sustainable mobility will be powered by low-CO2 hydrogen, low-CO2 hydrocarbons, low-CO2 oxygenates, low-CO2 electricity, or a combination of the above.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/ed3004269