Alternative Fuel Vehicle Manufacturers Key Terms

Learn AFV manufacturers' key terms for smarter shopping decisions for personal or fleet purchases

Both public and private sectors list any number of reasons to buy from alternative fuel vehicle manufacturers, from economical and environmental to political. Either purchasing new alternative fuel vehicles or converting current vehicles to run on alternative fuels may possibly save you money, help comply with pollution regulations, and contribute to the economy and security of our country. Check out the main terms listed below to understand how alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) manufacturers approach the problem of weaning away from dinosaur juice.

 

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

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