| There are many different types of alternative fuels | | | | However, natural gas, as the name implies, is a gas |
| that are being developed these days which is an | | | | much like air, rather than a liquid like petroleum. It has |
| exciting innovation in the vehicle industry. Alternative | | | | been found to be one of the most environmentally |
| fuels are the wave of the future as scientists look for | | | | friendly fuels, and its popularity is growing. |
| cleaner burning fuels that will not damage the | | | | You can find another type of alternative fuel in the |
| environment while providing great advantages to the | | | | form of good old fashioned electricity. In fact, electric |
| vehicle owner. They have come up with several. | | | | vehicles have been around for a long time, and they |
| Probably the most well known type of alternative fuel | | | | are coming back in popularity due to environmental |
| is ethanol. Ethanol is often called grain alcohol as it is | | | | concerns. Electric vehicles do not burn gasoline in an |
| made from corn and or soybeans. Right now on the | | | | engine. They use electricity stored on the car in |
| market is E85 which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 | | | | batteries. Sometimes, 12 or 24 batteries, or more, are |
| percent gasoline. Even though it still has gasoline in it, | | | | needed to power the car. |
| ethanol burns much cleaner than regular gas and | | | | One of the most interesting and promising type of |
| saves on gas mileage for those who use it. Ethanol | | | | alternative transportation fuels is hydrogen. While |
| can also be made from organic materials including | | | | mostly only experimental vehicles are operating on this |
| agricultural crops and waste, plant material left from | | | | fuel now, the potential for this unique energy source is |
| logging, and trash including paper. | | | | excellent. Hydrogen is the lightest of all elements and is |
| Another type of alternative fuel is methanol, a cousin | | | | easy to produce which is why it is sending excitement |
| of ethanol as they are both alcohol based products. | | | | waves throughout the alternative fuel industry as they |
| Methanol is sometimes called wood alcohol and can | | | | next big type of alternative fuel that can be used in |
| be made from various biomass resources like wood, | | | | vehicles. |
| as well as from coal. However, today nearly all | | | | These are only a few types of alternative fuels and |
| methanol is made from natural gas, or methane, | | | | more are being developed all the time. With a growing |
| because it is cheaper. | | | | concern over global warming, the use of alternative |
| Propane, or compressed natural gas has long been | | | | fuels will grow in popularity over time and you will likely |
| used to provide energy to homes, but it is rising in | | | | begin to see many other types of alternative fuels |
| popularity as a type of alternative fuel for vehicles. Like | | | | make their appearance. |
| oil, this common fuel comes from underground. | | | | |