Assessment of Alternative Fuels for Sustainable Road Transportation

Naturally, human beings move from one point to the other in search of facilities, socioeconomic fulfillment, livelihoods, and other necessities of life. Road transportation is one of the cost-effective, flexible, and easily accessible forms of transportation, globally. However, the application of fossil-based (FB) fuels for transport vehicles is ineffective, emits toxic gasses, pollutes the air, and exacerbates environmental degradation. The current work assesses the application of clean fuels such as biofuels, natural gas, electricity, propane, and other emerging fuels to replace FB fuels in transport vehicles. Unlike FB fuels, the use of biohydrogen, biomethane, biodiesel, and bioethanol in transport vehicles resulted in emission reduction by 70 %, 63 %, 41 %, and 54 %, respectively, while electric vehicles lower maintenance costs, ensures better engine performance, supports renewable energy integration, and better engine efficiency. The adoption of natural gas and propane as alternative fuel for transport vehicles is cost-effective, minimizes the emission of toxic greenhouse gasses, contributes to net-zero emission in the transport sector, and promotes environmental sustainability. There is a need for targeted financial, infrastructural, and technical investments to further promote the application of these clean fuels for road transport application. More multidisciplinary and innovative studies should be commissioned to unravel novel production, transport, storage, and utilization technologies for renewable fuels in the transport sector. Stakeholders should liaise with governments to enact implementable policies and laws that advance the use of alternative fuel for engine applications. The outcome of the study provides updated information and sensitizes automobile engineers, environmentalists, transport fleet operators, governments, and other stakeholders on the benefits derivable in the adoption of clean fuels as alternatives to FB fuels as transport vehicles fuel.