xpensive to burn

You are getting your first car. But you won't

be able to get any petrol. Petrol and diesel Petrol too e
come from oil and the supply is running
out. Luckily three local companies sell Biodiesel Beth
renewable fuels. Meet their saleswomen:

Venus

Biodiesel
Eyescool
Miss Fruity
Hydrogen

l l
Fuel Ce
Ethanol

Which fuel will you choose?

Take a Test Drive and play
What NOT to Burn. Find a WINNER and two BINNERS.
© Red Hot Science at www.ase.org.uk
 32
Ethanol Finish TEST DRIVE
23
Dark winter days reduce
hydrogen production
from solar cells.
Hydrogen misses a move
22
Hydrogen
11 Solar cells to make
hydrogen with electricity
from sunlight get
cheaper.
Hydrogen carries on to 21
10
Bumper rape seed crop
makes biodiesel cheaper.
Bargain biodiesel carries
car to 15
Biodiesel
High oil prices means it costs £300 to fill a petrol tank.
Throw 6 to choose a different fuel and get going.
Start TEST DRIVE
© Red Hot Science at www.ase.org.uk
24 25
Garage only sells
ethanol
Ethanol continues to 31
21 20 Noisy cars banned at
Hotter summers increase night. Hydrogen runs a
crop yields and make
silent electric motor. Other
them cheaper to buy.
fuels are turned back.
Biodiesel moves on to 25 Biodiesel to 12
Ethanol to 24 Ethanol to 13
12 13
Tough fire safety
regulations close
hydrogen storage
facilities.
Hydrogen slips back to 1
9 8
New farming methods
make "crop fuels" cheaper.
Biodiesel makes it to 14
Ethanol to 13
1 2
31 30 29
Congestion charging
introduced to discourage
car use.
All cars try to avoid it by
going back to 19
26 27 28
19 18 17 Global warming
increases. CO2 emissions
Nanotubes developed for
from cars blamed. Carbon-
safe hydrogen storage.
based fuels made expensive.
Hydrogen speeds up to 26
Biodiesel slips back to 15
Ethanol to 13
14 15 16 Buyers
Free road tax introduced
found for ethanol fuel
for zero pollution cars.
factory's waste – CO2 and
Hydrogen accelerates
animal feed – so fuel gets
to 19 cheaper.
Ethanol makes it to 18
7 6 5
Very efficient hydrogen
Local fuel factories get
fuel cells invented. Cars
government grants.
travel longer distances.
All cars advance to 15
Hydrogen drives on
to 15
3 4
Garage only sells ethanol.
Ethanol boosted to 7
 What NOT to burn
Scoring instructions
Give each comment a score
from ...1 to 3 and find the
total for each fuel.
Trinny and Biodiesel Beth Biodiesel is made from oil seed crops like
Susannah have sunflowers, peanuts and rape. The seeds are
processed in a factory and recycled cooking
been helping oil can be added.
each supplier to

Biodiesel
improve their
image.
As usual,
they had Venus Hydrogen is released when water is
decomposed by electricity from solar cells.
plenty to Eyescool It is energy-rich, but difficult to store.
say. But how Pure water vapour is the only product
positive when it burns or reacts in a fuel cell.
Hydrogen

were they ll
Fuel Ce
about each
fuel?

Miss Fruity Ethanol can be made from anything that will ferment.
Crops with lots of sugar in them, like fruit, work best. They are
fermented with yeast and then distilled, to purify the ethanol.
Solar power can be used for the distillation in sunny countries.
Ethanol

© Red Hot Science at www.ase.org.uk

 Something to flaunt! A classic. Looks fantastic!
Biodiesel Beth Biodiesel Beth Biodiesel Beth

Biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel

Releases CO2 but 80% of this goes

Burns in an ordinary diesel engine. Has been used in Europe for 20 years. straight back into new crops.

Something to invest Needs to show off A useful addition.

in for the future. its best assets. Biodiesel Beth
Biodiesel Beth Biodiesel Beth

Biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel

Leaves 90% less unburnt

Very pure – produces no sulphur hydrocarbons and ozone than Lubricates engines better so
dioxide – no acid rain. petrol so it doesn't make smog. they last longer

Needs to be covered up! A safe buy. So wonderfully versatile!

Biodiesel Beth Biodiesel Beth
Biodiesel Beth

Biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel

Made from all sorts of farm crops

Safe to store and transport. like soya, sunflowers, rapeseed
Exhaust fumes smell of popcorn. It will not burst into flames. and peanuts.
© Red Hot Science at www.ase.org.uk
 Has great potential. Great matching Has flair!
Miss Fruity potential. Miss Fruity
Miss Fruity

Ethanol
Ethanol

Ethanol
No overall CO2 emissions.
Made by a natural fermentation Crops like maize, barley or potatoes The waste from the exhaust is
process in rotting fruit. can be used instead of fruit. reused for photosynthesis.

Such a sparkling Downer. So wonderfully

outfit. Miss Fruity versatile.
Miss Fruity Miss Fruity

Ethanol

Ethanol
Ethanol

Burns very cleanly making only Making the fuel involves two steps After the fermentation the leftovers
CO2 and water. – fermentation and distillation. can be used for animal feed.

A racy little number. This is so hot! A tasty little

Miss Fruity Miss Fruity combination.
Miss Fruity

Ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol

Carbon dioxide produced by the

Very flammable – bursts into fermentation can be used to make
Only used for racing cars in the past. flames easily. drinks fizzy.
© Red Hot Science at www.ase.org.uk
 Something to flaunt! Such a sparkling This has to go.
Venus outfit. It does not suit your
Eyescool
Venus
Eyescool
lifestyle.
Venus

Hydrogen
Eyescool

Hydrogen
ll
Fuel Ce

Hydrogen
ll
Fuel Ce
The raw materials are so readily Fuel Ce
ll

available. Sunlight and moisture Hydrogen fuel is so clean. The solar cells will only make
are all around us. The only waste product is water. hydrogen in daylight hours.

Totally over the top! So wonderfully light. Not for everyday

Venus Venus use.
Eyescool Eyescool Venus
Eyescool

Hydrogen
Hydrogen

Hydrogen
ll
Fuel Ce

ll ll
Fuel Ce Fuel Ce
The solar cells used to split water
Hydrogen cars are much more Hydrogen releases more energy and release hydrogen are very
expensive than any other type of car. per gram than any other fuel. expensive.

Needs to show off its Good foundation This is so cool!

best assets. support is essential. Venus
Eyescool
Venus
Venus Eyescool
Eyescool

Hydrogen
Hydrogen

ll
Fuel Ce

l
Hydrogen

Fuel Cel

ll
Storing hydrogen is difficult.
Fuel Ce
The newest method uses carbon Liquid hydrogen needs to be at
Hydrogen powers a fuel cell to run an nanotubes. They can hold 65% of –250oC. When mixed with oxygen,
electric motor – so its very quiet. their mass as hydrogen. it can be explosive.
© Red Hot Science at www.ase.org.uk