ABSTRACT
The major sources of energy in the world are fossil fuels, renewable energy, and nuclear energy. The world is confronted with the twin crisis of fossil fuel depletion and environmental concern. Environmental pollution is an important public health problem in most cities of the developing world. The search for an alternative fuel has produced a long list of new candidates and a series of arguments, which support and project their characteristics. Though most of the work has been done on ethanol as a substitute for gasoline fuel, ethanol is also a suitable alternative fuel for diesel engines. Moreover, dimethyl ether is a potential alternative fuel that can be used in engines as well as onboard hydrogen generation fuel cells. Biomass generated gaseous fuels such as hydrogen can also be used as fuel for the fuel cells. The research on alternative fuels for its use in commercial vehicles is at peak in this scenario.
