Which alternative fuel vehicle do you like the most and why?

Question

Electric? Hybrid? Ethanol? Biodiesel? Natural Gas? Other?

Answer 1

----------
Electric. And I will make a case below for why this is the closest to reality, best for the environment, and the most affordable technology.
*
First of all, electric cars are available RIGHT NOW. Look at the links on this page, you can buy a freeway-capable EV for as little as $5000:
*
http://www.squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car/
*
Also on the above page, you can read about how much cheaper (1 cent per mile) electric is than gasoline (10 to 15 cents/mile.) No other alt-fuel option can beat this operating cost.
*
There are also exciting new-tech electric cars coming out this year, like the Phoenix:
*
http://phoenixmotorcars.com/models/fleet.html
*
This car solves all the problems: it gets up to 250 miles/charge, goes 95mph with 5 passengers plus cargo, charges in only TEN MINUTES, and has a battery pack that lasts over 200,000 miles.
*
These cars are best for the environment because they emit nothing from the tailpipe. It's true that power plants emit pollution, but the amount of overall pollution is only a fraction of what gasoline cars produce. (Due to the better efficiency of power generation, energy delivery, and utilization by the EV. Plus the fact that much electricity is now made from clean sources.) Charging your EV from solar panels on your garage would make it a true zero-emissions vehicle with an operating cost close to zero as well.
----------

Answer 2

I really cannot answer you about this. On the other hand, as a brazilian consumer, I can explain how it works in Brazil.

First of all, let me start explaining that we have been using ethanol for almost 30 years as fuel; in the beginning (long, long time ago) we had problemas with rust; but now, nobody even thinks about it. Of course our engines had to be changed and receive adequate protection.

In the last 5 years, the big hit in our country is using bi-fuel (ethanol and gas in any given combination - the engine automatically adapts to the mix); therefore, it doesn´t matter wheather the price of ethanol is high or low, since the consumer adapt its consumption to its own necessities. Our gas receives around 20% of alcohol. Four-fuel (this one includes natural gas and pure gas) are being tested.

Our buses already run with a mix of diesel and bio-diesel.

My point is: why America doesn´t start using more ethanol?

1. Eventhough its corn production is not so efficient as cana de acucar, it is a possibility.
2. It helps under developped countries such as Brazil.
3. It may help friendly governments, not fueling terrorists with america´s money.
4. It is much more environmentally safe than oil.
5. It creates more jobs and will not end.
6. It is a transitional solution, until better technologies are avaiable. such as hydrogene.

Some people say that it is strategically wrong, because US would then depend on Brazil. In very short time, a lot of countries may produce ethanol, including in Africa. Isn´t it much better than depending on arabs or Venezuela, or Sudan or any other unfriendly government?

Answer 3

Near future: Ethanol - not too many changes have to be made to the engine in order to run with Ethanol and there are already quite a few companies producing Ethanol around the globe.
Near to Far future: Hybrid - together with Ethanol. In order for hybrids to function properly, as in cost-effective and power effective, there still needs to be some development done with the batteries.
Far future: Hydrogen - Doesn't it sound great to have emission you could actually drink? Clean water as an emission! But the storage problem is still something which has to be overcome first.

Answer 4

I think Hybrids show a lot of promise for the near term as they are already on the market and allow you to get more mileage out of a full sized SUV than one currently gets with a traditional gasoline powered sedan.

However, long term I hope that electric hydrogen fuel celled powered vehicles become practical.

Answer 5

I do exactly not like fossil fuels for 1000 and one motives. Filthy unreliable risky expenses finite recource wars tremendous wealthy oil and coal mongers The record is going on and on. And asside from that carbon and toxins concern, fossil gas only shouldn't artwork for us (civilization) too a lot longer, it ought to't. What can we've, one hundred fifty years? 2 hundred, three hundred? it is no longer lengthy. the quicker we get off of them, the better it will be. i go with to illustrate that it would properly be achieved, no longer only without sacrifice, yet even as extremely recuperating your high quality of life. So i'm in touch about the destiny. it will be quite tremendous, or it will be an aweful hell hollow.

Answer 6

I would go for the current available technology and at an affordable prices. Hybrid! All other alternatives are available worldwide but not where I'm at, so alternative or not, its hard to find a resource for it!
a gentleman from Brazil has a good points but unfornately the politicians in this country not interested, one simple reason that we can't shut down all of car companies in Detroit overnight and million of dealers and mechanics out of work just to run a new stuffs, as long as there are high demand for these running gasoline vehicles, they will produce it, what about OPEC, they spent billion of dollars to invest in this country and relied on US as their main customer for use of their oil, million and million dollars per year for presidential elections in hope that the next elected President won't goes elsewhere for new resource, would you risk another Mid-East war for oil? And what about all that mighty industrial machines still greatly depends on oil for their machinery, tanks, trucks, locomotives! schoolbuses etc..still running on " oil alternative " You could change the stuffs running in your vehicle but will there be enough " alternative stations " available around the corner if you needs a fill up?

Answer 7

actually Brazil is depeloping fuel out of ethanol , making not so expensive modifications on the fuel delivery systems, and the project if works properly will make anybody buy ethanos even from a farm or little bussines and a real cheap price

Answer 8

I do like the fuel cell idea, especially the byproduct, Hydrogen. A normal internal combustion engine can run off of hydrogen, with minimal modifications or loss of power compared to gasoline. What is the byproduct of running an internal combustion engine off of hydrogen you ask? Water vapor. Zero harmful emissions. Neat huh?

Answer 9

Hydrogen Fuel Cell seems to be the way to go... BMW have just launched one with similar speed and acceleration etc. I'd certainly prefer it over a Prius any day...

Answer 10

CNG. It is good for the environment, it is cheap, and it is widely available as well as affordable.