Types of Alternative Fuels

1. Ethanol is usually made from corn or biomass (agricultural biological waste). Methanol can be made from various biomass like wood or from coal. Ethanol, a liquid produced from grain or agricultural waste, usually is sold as a blend of 85 percent denatured ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Ethanol had a dream that was sold that didn't necessarily have all the fundamentals, as it's dependent on the price of feedstock. However, the risk with geothermal is that people will say, "Well, it can only do 50 megawatts.

Ethanol is also available as an alternative fuel. E-85 is an alternative fuel blend containing 83% ethanol in the summer and 70% ethanol in the winter. Ethanol refueling sites can be found predominantly in the Midwest, close to the major supplies of ethanol. Efforts by DOE are underway in Minnesota to help construct a number of ethanol refueling sites.

2. Hydrogen, as an automotive fuel, is in the early stages of experimentation and development. Future hydrogen powered vehicles may produce tailpipe emissions that approach zero. Hydrogen can be used to cleanly power a modified internal combustion engine or a fuel cell vehicle with electric drive motors.

3. Electric vehicles are eco-friendly because they don't produce tailpipe emissions, although the generators producing the electricity used to charge EV batteries do emit pollutants. However, these pollutants are considered to be minimal when compared to the usage of gas. Electrical energy can be made by burning oil, coal, solid waste (rubbish), biomass, or other fuels. Or, electricity can be made without burning anything - by using the energy of the wind, the sun, or flowing water (more on electricity ). Electricity can be used as a transportation alternative fuel for battery-powered electric and fuel-cell vehicles. Battery powered electric vehicles store power in batteries that are recharged by plugging the vehicle into a standard electrical source.

4. CNG is a natural gas comprised mainly of methane, although it also contains small amounts of propane and butane. It is produced during the winning of crude oil or directly from natural gas fields. CNG also offers good availability and easy adaptability for today's automobile internal combustion powerplants. CON: CNG has a lower energy content than gasoline, so vehicles using it can generally only travel about 150 miles per tank.

State and fuel provider fleets are increasing their purchases of alternative fuel vehicles. City and County governments and large corporations may be required to purchase alternative fuel vehicles beginning in 2002. State vehicles outside the Ecogas contract (such as existing vehicles already converted to LNG or CNG, or new vehicles purchased already equipped for natural gas) will refuel at the 76?/gallon price.

Vehicle fuel systems for flex-fuel and dedicated natural gas vehicles are very similar. The main difference is that the gasoline fuel system is left intact on the dual-fuel or bi-fuel vehicle. Vehicles that can use either gasoline/diesel or an alternative fuel (bi-fuel vehicles) are a good transitional step. Soon, fleet use should bring enough demand for alternative fuels to make them as readily available as gasoline -- or as close as your home natural gas or electricity supply.

Vehicles covered by the CLEAR Act include those powered by hybrid engines, dedicated alternative fuels, fuel cells, and electric batteries. Vehicles that have been converted to operate on gasoline and alternative fuel (bi-fuel, must demonstrate ability to run on either fuel). Original equipment manufactured alternative fueled vehicles do not require an alternative fuel certificate. Vehicle storage systems being developed include compressed hydrogen, liquid hydrogen, and physical or chemical bonding between hydrogen and a storage media (for example, metal hydrides). Hydrogen vehicles are only available in a few select areas for small pilot programs.