Alternative Fuel Cars
There is a huge push in this country for people to switch
from gasoline powered vehicles to those that run on alternative
fuels. The fact of the matter is that alternative fuels are
environmentally friendly and can actually help conserve natural
resources that we use to produce gasoline. Here are some fast
facts about alternative fuel:
* Alternative fuels such as methanol, ethanol, compressed
natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and electricity produce
fewer tail pipe pollutants than conventional gasoline and
diesel fuel. Using them could improve air quality.
* According to EPA, the tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks
— unburned hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide,
particulate matter, and carbon dioxide — account for almost a
third of the air pollution in the U.S. Driving alternative
fueled vehicles could reduce the level of vehicle emissions.
And many alternative fuels are produced domestically, so they
promote economic activity in the U.S.
* Some alternative fuels have lower energy content than
gasoline. On a gallon-for-gallon basis, some alternative fuels
do not allow consumers to travel as many miles as they could in
a vehicle powered by gasoline or diesel fuel. In addition, an
AFV may cost more than a comparable gasoline-powered
vehicle.
* Alternative fuels are made out of a variety of materials
including paper and vegetable oil. Some alternative fuel
vehicles can run on the old grease that restaurants use to fry
foods.
* Cars that run on electric power are also considered to be
alternative fuel vehicles.
These are only a few of the facts about alternative fuels.
The data is changing every day as researchers are finding out
more and more about the trend toward “green” vehicles and
“green” fuels. New sources of alternative fuels are being found
and the facts about them will certainly be made public as soon
as information is available.
If you are considering switching to an alternative fuel
vehicle, it’s important to find out all the facts before you
“dive in”. An alternative fuel vehicle might not meet your
needs or might be financially detrimental. However, when you
consider the facts about alternative fuels, it’s difficult not
to agree that using them is good for the environment.
The world we live in is ever-changing and part of the reason
for that change is due to what we are emitting into the air
through our lifestyles. Looking at the facts about alternative
fuels, it becomes very obvious that if we start thinking
seriously about using these fuels, we might be able to undo
some of the damage we have already done.
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