Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternative fuels?
The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) defines alternative fuels as non-petroleum based fuels that could help reduce the dependence on foreign oil. Alternative fuels include:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/altfuels.html
What is an alternative fuel vehicle?
Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) are any vehicle designed to run on at least one alternative fuel. AFVs are available in a variety of models ranging from sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans to heavy-duty buses and trucks.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/afvehicles.html
ETHANOL
What is ethanol?
Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel that is produced by fermenting and distilling starch or sugar crops (usually corn, barley and wheat or sugar cane and fruit) to turn it into simple sugars. U.S. ethanol is currently derived mostly from corn.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/ethanol.html
http://www.hybridcars.com/ethanol-overview.html
Can I use ethanol-blended fuel in my vehicle?
It depends. Most likely, you’re already using ethanol in your vehicle without knowing it. All vehicles are capable of running on a blend of up to 10% ethanol (E10) without any engine modifications needed.
What is E85?
E85 is a blend of ethanol (85%) and gasoline (15%). Only E85 or higher is considered an alternative fuel by the EPAct.
Can I use E85 in any vehicle?
No. E85 is for use in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). You might have heard these vehicles referred to as “flex fuel” vehicles. FFVs can run on E85, conventional gasoline or a combination of the two. For the latest list of FFVs visit:
http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/flexfuelvehicles.php
http://www.ethanol.org
http://www.hybridcars.com/e85-vehicles.html
Will my gas mileage be the same with E85 as with regular gasoline?
Unfortunately, no. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, ethanol blends will minimally reduce the miles per gallon a vehicle gets compared to that of pure gasoline http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/pdfs/factfict.pdf. This is because ethanol contains less energy than gasoline. However, engines are being designed to increase fuel efficiency while using ethanol blends.
BIODIESEL
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel that can be made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. Pure or neat biodiesel is known as “B100” and is considered an alternative fuel. It is not, however, the same as raw vegetable oil.
It contains no petroleum, but can be blended with any level of petroleum to create a biodiesel blend. The most common blend is “B20,” (20% biodiesel and 80% diesel). (http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/faqs/default.shtm)
What kind of vehicles can use biodiesel?
Any vehicle that currently uses petroleum diesel can use biodiesel with little to no modification to the engine. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends consulting your vehicles manufacturer to see if they approve the use of biodiesel in their vehicles. (http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/bio_vehicles.html)
What are the benefits of using biodiesel?
Using biodiesel reduces the amount of emissions given off by a vehicle, is nontoxic, biodegradable and simple to use. Many biodiesel proponents also claim that using biodiesel can lead to less wear on engines and greater engine life. http://www.hybridcars.com/biodiesel-overview.html
Biodiesel Fun Fact:
It takes about 7.3 pounds of soybean oil, which costs about 20 cents per pound, to produce a gallon of biodiesel.
Other related biodiesel links:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/progs/related2alt.cgi?27
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
What is an electric vehicle?
Electric vehicles (EVs) use batteries and other energy storage devices to store the electricity that powers the electric motor in the vehicle. EV batteries are charged by plugging in the vehicle to a power source.
(http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/elec_vehicles.html)
Are EVs and Hybrids the same thing?
Not necessarily. Electric vehicles are run solely by an electric motor, where hybrid vehicles are usually powered by electricity and gasoline.
What are the benefits of an electric vehicle?
More than 95% of the electricity used to charge EVs originates from domestic resources, so driving an EV reduces the nation's dependence on imported oil.
Service requirements for EVs are fewer than those for gasoline-powered vehicles.
EVs are zero emission vehicles, which means they produce no tailpipe or evaporative emissions that contribute to air pollution. However, electricity production is not pollution-free. A Popular Mechanics graphic (http://media.popularmechanics.com/documents/Fuel_of_the_Future-e852.pdf) revealed that it took about one ton of coal to create enough energy to power a car for a cross country trip from New York to California. (http://www.evworld.com/evguide.cfm)
Electric vehicle Fun Fact:
In many cases, electric vehicles are created by converting a gasoline-powered vehicle.
HYBRIDS
What is a hybrid vehicle?
Hybrid vehicles, or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), are vehicles that combine gasoline-powered engines and electric motors. (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybridtech.shtml)
How does a hybrid vehicle work?
A hybrid’s power comes from the gasoline engine, but uses its electric motor when it is accelerating or climbing hills. The electric motor doesn’t need an outside power source for recharging because the batteries are recharged by regenerative braking. This means that energy from driving is captured during braking. This energy is then used to recharge the batteries (http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/transportation/hybrid.html).
Are hybrid cars available to the public?
Yes! And more are being introduced by automakers each year. For a current list of hybrid vehicles and the manufacturers that make them, visit: http://www.hybridcars.com/cars.html
What are the benefits of a hybrid?
The two most talked about reasons for owning a hybrid are reducing emissions and improving mileage.
What are the typical miles per gallon (MPG) for a hybrid?
Like any other vehicle, the MPG will vary by make, model and size of the vehicle. Mileage numbers for hybrids range from 18 city/21 highway for hybrid SUVs to 60 city/66 highway for the top mileage rating hybrid.
(http://www.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car.htm)
Hybrid Fun Stuff:
Hybridcars.com has a hybrid vehicle cost calculator tool where you can compare your current make and model to any available hybrid models. Click here to play: http://www.hybridcars.com/calculator/index.php
To explore even more about hybrid vehicles check out: http://www.hybridcars.com/
HYDROGEN
What is Hydrogen?
Hydrogen gas is the simplest and lightest fuel. It is in a gaseous state at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperatures. Today most hydrogen is made by steam reforming natural gas, but since natural gas is a fossil fuel, carbon dioxide is released during the reformation process. New technology is needed (and in the works) to produce, store and transport it. http://www.nrel.gov/learning/eds_hydrogen.html
Hydrogen can be produced using diverse, domestic resources including nuclear; natural gas and coal; and biomass and other renewables including solar, wind, hydroelectric, or geothermal energy. The hope is that in the future, it may be produced in virtually unlimited quantities using these renewable resources.
What are the benefits of hydrogen?
Hydrogen use as an energy source could address issues such as energy security, global climate change and air quality. The main benefits are: reduced green house emissions, improved air quality and increased energy efficiency. http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/hydr_benefits.html
Are hydrogen vehicles available for public use?
There are no hydrogen vehicles available in the U.S. In fact, there are no hydrogen vehicles available anywhere—they are actually referred to as “Fuel Cell Vehicles.” See the section on Fuel Cells for more information on fuel cell vehicles.
FUEL CELLS
What are Fuel Cells?
Fuel cells cleanly produce electricity from hydrogen and oxygen. They function somewhat like a battery—with external fuel being supplied, rather than stored electricity—to generate power by chemical reaction rather than combustion, like a convention engine. When powered by pure hydrogen, there is no pollution and it leaves behind only two byproducts, heat and water. Fuel cell availability is pretty limited mainly due to the expensive materials, such as platinum, used to produce them. A fuel cell power system has many components, but its heart is the fuel cell stack, which is made of many thin, flat cells layered together. The output of all the cells combined is what powers a vehicle.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/fuelcells/fc_systems.html
What are fuel cell vehicles?
Fuel cell vehicles typically use hydrogen stored in onboard fuel tanks. Inside the fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen combine to produce electricity, which is stored in a battery and powers the electric motor of the vehicle.
http://www.nrel.gov/learning/avf_fuel_cell.html
Are fuel cell vehicles available to the public?
No, there are no fuel cell vehicles available for sale in the U.S. Fuel cell vehicles are used for demos in light-duty vehicles with most auto manufacturers, medium-duty, and some buses.
Please click here for more information on the background and benefits of fuel cells:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/fuelcells/basics.html
Because hydrogen is the building block of fuel cells…
Here’s a great site that provides more information and education on both alternative fuels: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/education/
P-SERIES
What are P-Series fuels?
P-Series fuels are renewable, non-petroleum, liquid fuels that can substitute for gasoline. They are a blend of 25 or so domestically produced ingredients. About one-third of P-Series comes from the by-product left over from processed natural gas, 45% comes from ethanol and the remaining quarter comes from an ether called MeTHF. MeTHF is essentially any kind of organic leftovers: food waste, yard and wood waste, paper sludge, agricultural waste, etc. (http://www.iags.org/pseries.htm)
P-Series fuels were officially designated as an alternative fuel by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1999.
Can I use P-Series in any vehicle?
P-Series is not gasoline and can’t be used in a gas powered vehicle. But because of the makeup of the fuel, P-Series fuel has been designed to work in FFVs. (http://www.iags.org/pseries.htm)
NATURAL GAS
What is natural gas?
Natural gas is 90 percent methane and contains a mixture of hydrocarbons that is produced from gas wells or from crude petroleum production. It is clean burning, domestic and readily available for consumers.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/whatis_gas.html
Can natural gas be used in any vehicle?
No. There are vehicles that are made specifically to run on natural gas and others that are bi-fuels that can use natural gas or conventional fuels (like gasoline or diesel). The two types of natural gas that can be stored in a vehicle are compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
There is only one light-duty original engine manufactured (OEM) CNG vehicle available this year—the Honda Civic GX. The Civic GX was named World Green Car at the 2006 New York Auto Show. http://www.hybridcars.com/compressed-natural-gas/overview.html
There are “dedicated” natural gas vehicles (NGVs) available through certain manufactures; however, it is possible to convert a conventional engine to one that can run on an alternative fuel, such as natural gas.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/gas_vehicles.html
How does NGV performance compare to conventional fuel vehicles?
Typical range for an NGV run on CNG or LNG is less than a conventionally fueled vehicle because of the lower energy content of natural gas. Other storage tanks can increase range, but the extra weight might displace payload capacity. However, horsepower, acceleration and cruise power is the same.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/gas_vehicles.html
A bi-fuel NGV range is comparable to a gasoline run vehicle. More information on NGVs is available on the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition website: http://www.ngvc.org/about_us/index.html
PROPANE
What is propane?
Propane, or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is a readily available by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining.
What kinds of vehicles run on propane?
Propane is powering taxis, trolleys, school buses, police cars and other vehicles that are owned by companies, usually referred to as fleets. Many off-road vehicles, such as forklifts, also run on propane. Propane has been used in vehicles since the 1920s and today there are more than nine million propane run vehicles in the world. Propane vehicles can have dedicated fueling systems for propane only or bi-fuel systems to run on propane or gasoline.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/prop_vehicles.html
What are the benefits of propane?
Propane is a domestic resource that is readily available to the public, produces fewer emissions than petroleum gasoline, the cost per gallon (depending on location) is generally less than gasoline and many states offer incentives for using propane.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/prop_benefits.html
GENERAL AFV Q& As
What is a converted vehicle?
A converted vehicle is originally designed to run on gasoline but has been altered to perform on an alternative fuel. The two most common fuels used in vehicle conversion are compresses natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, or propane).
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/conversion101.html
Is there a list of companies that do conversions or a list that can point me in the right direction?
Yes! The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) website has made it easy to find where and what kinds of vehicles can be converted. Click this link to see a national list of conversion companies: http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/progs/res_guide.cgi?CONVCO#national
You can use the drop down list on the page for industry contact for the different types of alternative fuels and AFVs as well.
Here is another good information source for conversion companies provided by the EERE: http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/progs/related2.cgi?afdc//0
How much energy does the U.S. really consume?
For a year to year comparison of energy consumption click here, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/trends/table1.html, to visit the Energy Information Administration for answers regarding all energy sources from fossil fuels to solar energy.
Is there a complete list of available AFVs?
Yes! The EERE has a list that is updated by model year. To view the PDF of the most current 2007 AFVs, click here: http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/pdfs/my2007_afv_atv.pdf
For even more on all types of AFVs, present and future, check out these sites:
http://www.CleanFuelsOhio.org/FFV
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/afvehicles.html
http://www.CleanFuelsOhio.org/hybrids.php
Where can I find information on tax incentives for my AFV?
The D.O.E and the Environmental Protection Agency’s has a site that provides the information you’ll need to determine whether your AFV meets the tax incentive requirements. Click on these links to visit the EPA website and the IRS site:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax_afv.shtml
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157557,00.html
Where can I go to keep up-to-date on the status of IRS tax credits for hybrids and AFVs?
Here’s a great link to the IRS site with information about AFV incentives that will keep you informed of any changes or updates:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=161076,00.html
Here’s a fun link! By clicking here you can see how much you can save by idling less:
http://www.transportation.anl.gov/pdfs/TA/361.pdf
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