Alternative fuel vehicle
Alternative fuel vehicles are vehicles that use energy that comes from something other than petroleum (oil). (Gasoline and diesel fuel come from petroleum[1][2]). Most of the alternative energy does not need to be imported from other countries, so money stays in the country. Some (but not all) come from renewable sources. Many produce less pollution than gasoline or diesel.[3]
Alternative fuel vehicles cover a wide range of engines and motors.
- Electric vehicle - no pollution from the car, but there can be some pollution where the electricity is made
- Natural gas vehicle - a fossil fuel, but burns much cleaner than gasoline, and there is more natural gas available than petroleum
- Biodiesel vehicle - diesel fuel that comes from plant (or sometimes animal) oils
- Ethanol vehicle - quite often ethanol is mixed with gasoline, from 10% to 85% ethanol (called E10 or E85)
- Methanol vehicle - Methanol and ethanol are used in many of the fastest race cars
- Butanol vehicle - similar to ethanol and methanol, this can be made from many biofuels, but is not commonly used
- Hydrogen car - also called a fuel cell vehicle, or FCV
- Compressed air vehicle - this technology works, but vehicles are still in the demonstration stage, and range can be a problem
- Propane (or liquefied petroleum gas, LPG)
Also, there are bicycles, rickshaws, and two and three-wheeled human powered vehicles.
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Media
Brazil is the world's leader in flexible-fuel car sales, with cumulative sales totalling 25.5 million units as of June 2015[update] .
The Tesla Model 3 all-electric car is the world's all-time best-selling plug-in electric car with about 950,000 units sold as of March 2021[update].
The Peugeot 2008 HYbrid air prototype replaced conventional hybrid batteries with a compressed air propulsion system
The Nissan Leaf was the world's top selling highway-capable all-electric car until December 2019.
Nuna team at a racecourse.
Nuna solar powered car, which has travelled up to 140km/h (84mph).
Ammoniacal Gas Engine Streetcar in New Orleans drawn by Alfred Waud in 1871.
Other websites
- Alternative Fuels Development Center (U.S. Department of Energy)
References
- ↑ Joanna Kakissis (July 26, 201). "U.K. To Ban Diesel And Gas Cars In 2040". NPR. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
- ↑ Angelique Chrisafis and Adam Vaughan (6 July 2017). "France to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2040". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
- ↑ "Alternative Fuels". U.S. Dept of Energy. Retrieved 27 March 2013.