Electric vehicles (EVs) are nothing new. The first electric carriage was invented back in the 1830s, and by the 1900s commercial EVs like platform trucks and the British milk float were common. Fast forward to the present, and EVs are becoming mainstream – all the major car manufacturers are developing new models.

With hydrogen such a long way off and pure electric vehicles still having some significant limitations, biofuels are increasingly being seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels that can be introduced now and remain through the short to long term.

Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter when compared to emissions from petroleum diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are essentially eliminated compared to diesel. (Source: www.biodiesel.org)

With the ability of all diesel cars to run on biodiesel mixed at 5 per cent with standard diesel without any modification or warranty problems there is a clear benefit of using biodiesel in low percentage blends.

As electricity bills rise, more and more Bermudians are considering installing solar panels or wind turbines to offset their bills and feel more self-sufficient. In the last few years, the technologies have improved, more local retailers are selling and servicing these products, and consumers are increasingly aware that the set-up costs of an alternative energy system will greatly pay off in the long term. However, there remains a great deal of confusion as to which products are not only advisable to use in Bermuda but have the green light from Government and BELCO. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions on the matter of solar and wind generating products.