Alternative Fuels Defintion
Alternative fuel is any method of powering an engine that does not involve petroleum (oil). Some alternative fuels are electricity, hithane,
hydrogen, natural gas, and wood.
In short, alternative fuels are those that can replace conventional fuels like ordinary gasoline and/or diesel. Many alternative
fuels also have another particularly desirable quality; energy efficiency and pollution reduction features.
Alternative fuels include:
- compressed natural gas,
- alcohols,
- liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and
- electricity.
The 1990 Clean Air Act encourages development and sale of alternative fuels. Substitutes for traditional liquid, oil-derived motor vehicle
fuels like gasoline and diesel.
Alternative fuels includes methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas, and others.
Alternative fuels used in transportation other than gasoline or diesel, including
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natural gas,
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methanol,
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Biodiesel.
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and electricity.
Non-fossil and non-nuclear fuels such as windpower, solar energy, and biofuels are also considered
alternative fuels. This is also a popular term for "non-conventional" transportation fuels.
Typically, alternative fuels are derived from natural gas (propane, methane, compressed natural gas, etc.), biomass materials or other
non-polluting or less-polluting sources such as hydroelectric, wind, or solar power. As a general rule in the popular press, any motor fuel other
than ordinary gasoline, especially those that result in lower levels of air pollutants (eg reformulated gasoline, natural gas, and liquid
propane) are usually considered alternative fuels.
Fuels such as methanol, ethanol, natural gas, and liquid petroleum gas are also cleaner burning and help to meet ARB's mobile and stationary
emission standards. These fuels may be used in place of less clean (i.e. conventional fuels) fuels for powering motor vehicles.
See also:
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