Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine in the late 19th century. Diesel engines work by compressing air and igniting fuel without a spark plug. They are commonly used to power generators and vehicles. While effective, diesel engines also produce harmful emissions and are more expensive than gasoline engines. Alternatives being explored for freight transport include electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, natural gas, biodiesel, and propane options which aim to reduce emissions and improve efficiency.

1. Rudolf Diesel, full name Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel, was a German thermal engineer who
created the internal combustion engine that bears his name. He was born. in Paris, France, on
March 18, 1858, and passed away at sea in the English Channel on September 29, 1913. He
was also a renowned linguist, social theorist, and art enthusiast.
The diesel engine, which was developed after Rudolph Diesel, is a type of internal combustion
engine called a compression ignition engine (Cl engine) because it ignites the fuel by
mechanically compressing the air inside the cylinder. In contrast, engines like gasoline or
gasoline engines use a spark plug to ignite the air-fuel mixture.
One of the most popular reciprocating engines used in power generation is the diesel engine.
High-speed diesel engines are frequently utilised as emergency backup generators to supply
electricity during grid outages. In this regard, diesel engines are particularly attractive due to
their fast starting times (often less than 10 seconds). Diesel engines can be used in conjunction
with quick energy storage components like flywheels or ultracapacitors when a quicker start-up
is necessary. Similar to this, fast diesel engines are also employed to power off-grid isolated
places. Remote villages can also get electricity and backup supplies through medium-speed
networks. Economic issues have become critical because these motors are larger and more
expensive than high-speed motors, For industrial operations that need to supply their energy or
cannot afford to lose electricity from the grid, such motors are often used to generate electricity.
Low-speed engines that are often employed for base load make up the majority of diesel fleets.
Because it offers a reasonably priced power source, the engine is especially appealing when a
source of heavy oil is accessible. However, motors can also be used for grid maintenance or in
situations where electricity demand changes.
Diesel's life story would have been a movie if he was a celebrity. This technology became
popular in the late 1990s, and motorists were concerned about fuel consumption and carbon
emissions. Previously, it was considered Cinderella-like and only suitable for dirty work on
tractors and large trucks. That fame was short-lived, but two decades later, diesel engines were
scorned by the public for their disproportionate contribution to dangerous air pollution.
DISADVANTAGES OF DIESEL ENGINES
Diesel cars are usually more expensive than regular cars. Diesel fuel is expensive in most
geographic areas. Diesel engines are more expensive to repair and maintain. With diesel, you
may not get the fuel you need. New diesel fuel has poor lubrication properties. They can be
difficult to start in cold weather. Moreover they are much louder than petrol engines.
The recent discovery that Volkswagen cheated on emissions tests, as well as several studies
assessing the health risks posed by diesel pollution, have contributed to diesel's recent demise.
Many European cities have pledged to ban diesel vehicles entirely within less than a decade,
amid growing public debate. Yes, diesel cars emit nitrogen oxides, which are believed to
contribute to respiratory diseases such as asthma. Before 1992, carbon monoxide, the main

2. poison, was found in the exhaust of internal combustion engines (including diesel and gasoline),
lead was also found in gasoline, and a lot of unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, and
diesel engines then produced a lot of soot. We are at the stage where we have systems to deal
with all the serious pollutants in petrol and diesel, including nitrogen oxides and particulate
emissions. Although a three-way catalytic converter can also remove residual carbon monoxide
and hydrocarbons and can remove nitrogen oxides produced by gasoline engines, the process
is much more difficult for diesel engines.
ALTERNATIVES TO DIESEL
FOR FREIGHT TRANSPORT
1. ELECTRIC
An electric motor or generator powers electric drive systems, and electricity is stored onboard in
battery packs. During the vehicle's operation's regenerative braking phase, the batteries
additionally gather and store energy. The regenerative braking system stores energy that can
later be used to power the vehicle
2. ELECTRIC HYBRID
A hybrid vehicle that combines an electric drive system with a conventional internal combustion
engine (ICE) system is known as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) (hybrid electric vehicle
powertrain). The use of electric powertrains is designed to provide higher performance or better
fuel economy than conventional cars. There are several types of HEVS, each of which differs in
electric vehicle (EV) features. Hybrid electric vehicles are the most popular type of HEV,
although hybrid electric buses, boats, cars and tractors are available.
3. HYBRID HYDRAULIC
To improve fuel efficiency and reduce harmful emissions, hydraulic hybrid vehicles, or HHVs,
combine conventional internal combustion engines (ICE) with a source of pressurized fluid flow.
They detect and recover 70–80% of the braking/deceleration category of the vehicle. against
55% for electric hybrid vehicles. Hydraulic hybrid car systems can weigh less than electric
hybrid vehicle systems because of the weight of the batteries. With this in mind, payload
capacity may be less affected. especially in the heavy vehicle class
4. GAS NATURAL
The engine operates similarly to a gasoline engine. In a fuel tank, or cylinder, usually located in
the back of the car, natural gas is kept. The CNG fuel system transfers high pressure gas from
the fuel tank through the fuel lines, but a pressure regulator reduces it to a level that is
compatible with the engine's fuel injection system. Last but not least, the fuel is moved to the
combustion chamber or intake manifold, where it is mixed with air, compressed, and ignited by a
spark plug.

3. 5. BIODIESEL
Diesel, an internal combustion fuel commonly used in vehicles, is usually produced from
petroleum oil. Diesel fuel can be entirely or partially replaced by biodiesel. It is renewable and
made of organic materials. According to the National Biodiesel Board, biodiesel burns cleaner
than diesel fuel, is produced from organic, renewable resources like vegetable oils, and emits
fewer greenhouse gases than diesel.
6. PROPANE
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) , sometimes referred to as propane, is another fuel substitute for
gasoline. Because propane is a gaseous fuel, like natural gas, it must be kept in a specific
high-pressure fuel cylinder because it is a vapour at ambient temperature