Guide Note

Alternative fuels are any type of vehicle fuel other than the traditional gasoline or diesel that is used in most cars. Typically, the goal of alternative fuel is to offer a combination of cleaner emissions, renewability, efficiency, and the reduction of reliance on foreign oil.

Fast Facts

Also known as: Non-conventional fuels
Energy Policy Act of 1992-defined alternative fuels: Biodiesel, Electricity, Ethanol, Hydrogen, Methanol, Natural Gas, Propane¹
California fuel demand expected to grow 35% over the next 20 years²
Buying an alternative fuel vehicle could make you eligible for a tax credit of $4,000³
Biodiesel is made from oils and fats⁴
The Tesla Roadster is an all-electric car that gets the equivalent of 256 miles per gallon⁵
Honda began renting a hydrogen-powered car to a select few in 2008⁶

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Some examples of vehicles under development that use alternative fuels include:

Categories

Cars | Vehicles | Alternative Fuel

View Note History

Alternative Fuel

The Mahalo Top 7

U.S. Department of Energy: Alternative Fuels
Wikipedia: Alternative Fuel
California Energy Commission: Alternative Transportation Fuels
Alternative Refueling Station Map
About.com: Alternative Fuels
FuelEconomy.gov: Government Tax Incentives for Alternative Fuel
California Energy Commission: Student's Guide to Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Alternative Fuel News and Articles

AutoblogGreen
The New York Times: Corn Ethanol: Biofuel or Biofraud? (September 24, 2007)
Blog: Green Fuel Power
Blog: DomesticFuel.com
Google News: Alternative Fuel

Alternative Fuel Videos and Images

Mahalo Daily: E85 Ethanol Powered Cars at Conserv Fuel

Alternative Fuel Types

Hybrid Technology

Checkout Mahalo's guide on Hybrid Cars
HowStuffWorks.com: How Hybrid Cars Work
Autoblog: Hybrids

Electric Vehicles

Check out Mahalo's Guide to Electric Cars
Wikipedia: Electric Vehicle
Chevrolet Volt
Tesla Roadster

Natural Gas

Check out Mahalo's guide to Natural Gas Cars
Wikipedia: Compressed Natural Gas
CNNMoney.com: Betting Billions on Liquefied Natural Gas

Ethanol

Check out Mahalo's Guide to Ethanol Cars
Wikipedia: Ethanol Fuel
DrivingEthanol.org
General Motors: Live Green Go Yellow

Hydrogen

Check out Mahalo's Guide to Hydrogen Cars
Popular Mechanics: The Truth About Hydrogen
Wikipedia: Hydrogen Economy

Biodiesel

The New York Times: Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Threat (February 8, 2008)
The destruction of natural environments to build farms for biofuels means that biofuels produce more greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum.
Spiegel Online: 'A Total Disaster': Critique Mounts against Biofuels (January 23, 2008)
- "Paul J. Crutzen, who won the 1995 Nobel prize for chemistry, estimates that biodiesel produced from rapeseed can result in up to 70 percent more greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels. Corn, the preferred biofuels crop in the US, results in 50 percent more emissions, Crutzen estimates."
Guardian Unlimited: Biofuels 'do more harm than good' (January 20, 2008)
Journey to Forever: Make Your Own BioDiesel
National Biodiesel Board
Wikipedia: Biodiesel
Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems
Autoblog: Make Your Own Biodesiel

Methanol

Wikipedia: Methanol Fuel
Methanol Institute

Related Searches

How to Buy a Hybrid Car | Greenpeace | Hybrid Cars | Electric Cars | Natural Gas Cars | Ethanol Cars | Hydrogen Cars | Biodiesel