| Globally, more and more people are expressing an | | | | 3. On a gallon-per-gallon basis, some alternative fuels |
| interest in switching from gasoline powered vehicles | | | | will not permit consumers to travel as far or as long |
| to ones that operate using alternative fuels. | | | | as they could in a gasoline or diesel propelled vehicle. |
| Alternative fuels that are environmentally friendly, can | | | | So they have a lower energy output. At this time, an |
| actually help to conserve the natural resources that | | | | alternatively fuel vehicle also costs more than a |
| are used to produce gasoline, and protect the | | | | conventional automobile. |
| environment as well. Drilling and other invasive | | | | 4. Alternative fuels utilize a wide variety of materials, |
| methods will no longer be necessary, protecting the | | | | for example old grease that restaurants used for |
| habitats of many endangered creatures. | | | | frying, vegetable oils, electricity, recycled paper and |
| For those who are thinking of making the switch to | | | | plant wastes are used to create fuel. These are all |
| an alternative fuel vehicle or AFV, it's important to | | | | cleaner burning that petroleum products, and have |
| investigate all the alternatives available before settling | | | | less impact upon the environment. |
| on just one choice. While almost everyone agrees | | | | The above are only a few of the facts concerning |
| that AFV's are better for the environment, costs and | | | | alternative fuels. Each individual type of "green fuel" |
| the limitations of owning them should be carefully | | | | has its own pluses and minuses but they all deserve |
| considered. At this time, AFV choices are somewhat | | | | investigation by those who are sincerely interested in |
| limited but the growing consumer demand will | | | | cutting energy costs and protecting the environment. |
| inevitably drive the costs lower and improve the | | | | Every day, new advances are being made as |
| choices available. | | | | research into this area grows. New sources of |
| Four Facts About Alternative Fuels | | | | alternative fuels are under investigation and |
| 1. Electricity, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, | | | | development. Perhaps, the answer is not just one |
| ethanol, and compressed natural gas, produce fewer | | | | type of alternative fuel being better than the rest, |
| vehicle emissions than traditional gasoline and diesel. | | | | but that a group of "green" energy sources will be |
| Studies have shown that each of them contributes | | | | optimal. |
| toward a cleaner environment. | | | | The natural world is constantly changing, but many |
| 2. Unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and | | | | environmental changes today are being brought |
| dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate materials; | | | | about by the pollution emissions of our automobiles. |
| standard tailpipe emissions from gasoline and diesel | | | | When we consider the global impacts of changing to |
| powered vehicles, are responsible for about one-third | | | | alternative fuel vehicles, it becomes obvious that this |
| of U.S. air pollutants. Vehicles powered by alternative | | | | is more than just an option. In the very near future, |
| fuels would reduce these emissions considerably. Also, | | | | it must become an active part of our lifestyles. We |
| many alternative fuels promote the U.S. economy | | | | owe it to the future of our planet to make changes |
| because they can be produced domestically. | | | | now. |