Guide to Alternative Fuel Vehicle Manufacturers Basics

Alternative fuel vehicle makers are developing new ways to save fuel and lower costs

By Sherril Steele-Carlin, Freelance Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Uncover the alternative fuel availability in your area

It doesn't do any good to purchase an alternative fuel vehicle from makers of alternative fuel vehicles if you can't find the right fuel in your area. Before you shop alternative vehicle manufacturers, find out what alternative fuels are available in your city or town, so you'll never have to travel far just to fill up.

I recommend: The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) offers a directory of E85 ethanol fuel stations. E85 refers to motor fuel blends that contain 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Many major car manufacturers are making E85 compatible cars today, including Chevrolet. The National Biodiesel Board also offers a map so you can locate biodiesel stations in your area. Jeep offers the 2009 Grand Cherokee with a 3.0-liter V6 Turbo Diesel engine that can use biodiesel fuels.

Seek out alternative vehicle manufacturers that have a history of developing alternative fuel vehicl

Alternative fuel technology is changing rapidly, but there are some alternative fuel manufacturers that have been building vehicles for quite some time. You want a reliable vehicle for your business, so make sure you purchase your new vehicle from a alternative fuel vehicle maker that has a great reputation for building high quality cars and giving good service.

I recommend: Toyota has been building hybrid vehicles like the Prius in Japan since 1997, so they have one of the longest histories of any alternative fuel vehicle manufacturers. Honda offers the Civic GC that runs on natural gas with a filling station you can use at home.

Read more about alternative fuel technology and manufacturers like electric vehicle manufacturers

To make an informed decision about the right alternative fuel manufacturer for your needs, learn more about the fuels of today and the fuels of the future. You can decide what fuel technology is right for you, what you can look forward to, and even if you buy an alternative fuel car now, can you buy alternative fuel conversion kits that will make it even more efficient in the future.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Energy offers information on all the alternative fuels available and offers information on fuels of the future and fuel prices, too. Global Electric Motorcars, owned by Chrysler, builds small, neighborhood electric vehicles that can be used for a variety of back lot, warehouse, farming, and just about any short trips around your business. The National Alternative Fuel Training Consortium (NAFTC) offers training sessions around the country so you can learn more and choose the right alternative fuel vehicle makers or electric vehicle manufacturer.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Visit a few manufacturer showrooms in your area to see the latest from alternative fuel manufacturers. Don't overlook small, local manufacturers that may offer electric or other alternative fuel vehicles designed specifically for your area. They may be more affordable, especially if you need vehicles that don't need to travel very far every day, but need to be reliable.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose alternative fuel manufacturers from one of the Big Three

Good news: the government considers any vehicle that runs on 85% ethanol (E85) or compressed or liquefied natural gas to be an alternative fuel vehicle. By that definition, your LPG hi-lo running the stock room may be an alternative fuel vehicle. These fuels are already part of the energy infrastructure in the US, and easier to work into your current maintenance budget.

I recommend: General Motors heavily promotes its flex fuel vehicle fleet in national broadcast advertising. While Ford also produces vehicles that run on E85, they have put their promotion effort behind hybrid vehicles.

Obtain small transport vehicles from electric vehicle manufacturers

While electric vehicles may have a shorter range and no real refueling infrastructure to support long over-the-road routes, you can still benefit by using them for short trips or internal transport like plant-to-plant or inside warehouses.

I recommend: Cushman Textron offers personnel carriers and heavy-duty industrial materials carriers. Taylor-Dunn produces a range of electric personnel carriers and industrial tow vehicles, from shuttles to stock chasers.

Retrofit some vehicles using alternative fuel conversion kits

For even greater flexibility in fuel sources, as well as cleaner emissions, convert a gas or even diesel engine to run on liquid natural gas or propane.

I recommend: Omnitek Engineering produces conversion kits and even converted engines. Welsh Technologies offers an add-on dual fuel system that allows gasoline or diesel vehicles to include liquid natural gas, propane, even hydrogen into the combustion cycle, improving efficiency and extending the life of the engine.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your fleet's OEM before starting any alternative fuel technology conversions to avoid warranty issues. With E85 and biodiesel blends already in the nation's pipelines, these two mainstream alternatives are a great way to start an incremental shift over to a fleet of alternative fuel vehicles.

Action Steps
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Get formal alternative fuel vehicle manufacturers education and training

Colleges and universities offer different types of alternative energy programs. Many of these programs feature course work in alternative fuel or fuel cell energy. Websites with a directory for alternative energy courses can provide you with links for colleges in your local area.

I recommend: Lansing Community College offers Alternative Energy Engineering Technology Programs. You can get more information on the details for its programs at its website. Midlands Technical College offers a Certificate in Engineering Technology with an emphasis on alternative energy.

Read technical and educational information to learn alternative fuel technology

Many alternative fuel manufacturers provide educational and technical information online in order to attract business from alternative fuel vehicle makers. Research is essential in order for an alternative fuel manufacturer to break into the industry, and you can take advantage of that research, sometimes for free.

I recommend: Read the technical papers written by Alternative Fuel Technology (AFT) to learn about its injection system and its alternative fuel for diesel, dimethyl ether (DME). BCC Research provides publications on energy and resources including educational reports and industry overviews. The US Department of Energy provides education on incentives and laws.

Find training for electric vehicle manufacturers

One of the most popular alternative fuel vehicles is the electric car. Education and training specific to this type of vehicle can help you understand how these cars work and may include education on hybrids.

I recommend: The Mid-Del Technology Center offers a variety of courses for electric vehicles as well as other alternative fuel cars. It has a four-bay laboratory as well as classrooms. The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium hosts several classes and workshops for manufacturers. It includes education specifically for battery-powered electric vehicle manufacturers.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The US Department of Energy/Office of Transportation Technology provides information on education and training opportunities available for alternative fuel vehicle makers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

E85

E85, short for Ethanol-85 (as in 85 percent ethanol 15 percent gasoline), is a blend major auto manufacturers produce vehicles for. While E85 fuel is less expensive than gasoline, it packs less of a punch, so vehicles may get lower mileage using E85. In the winter, fuel producers alter the mix to 70 percent ethanol for better cold starts and they make an E95 blend for diesel applications.

I recommend: The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) offers a FAQ page and an interactive map showing E85 station locations.

Flexfuel

If you see newer cars passing by with a 'flexfuel' of FFV (Flex Fuel Vehicle) tag on the rump, their fuel systems can handle plain gasoline or the E85 blend mentioned previously. Onboard computer systems monitor the combustion process, so you have no switches to push or gauges to keep an eye on.

I recommend: The Grand Cherokee is available with a FFV V8 engine Jeep and claims to be more powerful and more fuel efficient than the gasoline engine it replaces. Review the Grand Cherokee flexfuel specs and a definition of flexfuel at Jeep's website.

Biodiesel

Put simply, you get biodiesel when you introduce methanol and lye or potash to fat or vegetable oil in order to separate the glycerin. Just like ethanol content, biodiesel fuel at your local filling station should have a 'B#' designation (for example B100 would be pure biodiesel; any lower number indicates a mix of bio- and petrol-based fuel). Technically, anything from B5 to B20 should work in a current diesel with no modification; however, emission technologies in 2009 or newer diesels may not work well with anything higher than B5.

I recommend: The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) site offers fact pages for consumers, fleet managers and distributors.

Hybrid

Although any combination of two or more fuel sources can be considered a hybrid form of locomotion, today's manufacturers have concentrated on combining conventional gasoline engines with electric motors, as these two are the most developed and accepted motor forms on the market.

I recommend: While nearly all the major auto manufacturers produce hybrids, Ford strongly promotes its lineup of hybrid vehicles for the market.

CNG and LPG

Producers distribute gas, as in air-like gaseous state rather than gasoline, in two forms: compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquid propane gas (LPG). While smaller vehicles and industrial tractors can use CNG and LPG straight, you may need to convert larger vehicles into your own hybrid vehicle, supplementing gasoline or diesel with either CNG or LPG to lower emissions and stretch mileage.

I recommend: Omnitek Engineering offers engine management systems and conversion kits to create you own hybrid, using CNG or LPG in your current gas or diesel engines.

Fuel cell

The new kid on the alternative fuel block runs on the universe's most basic building block: hydrogen. Simply put, hydrogen combines with oxygen, releasing electricity that can run a motor. A stack of membranes that allow the transfer to occur makes up the fuel cell. Heat and water vapor comprise the exhaust.

I recommend: The California Energy Commissions’ Consumer Energy Center devotes a page to fuel cell vehicles.