At present, there are a wide variety of possibilities for alternative fuel vehicles, ranging from electric cars and propane vehicles to natural gas-powered buses and trucks that burn biodiesel. By using more alternative fuels and cars, consumers' fuel costs will go down, pollution will be reduced, and the country's energy security will grow.
What are Alternative Fuel Vehicles?
Automobiles that run on fuels besides conventional petrol or diesel are referred to as alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). These cars are manufactured to lessen or completely eliminate hazardous emissions and our reliance on fossil fuels. We can reduce the negative effects of transportation on the environment while diversifying our energy sources if we use alternative fuels.
The Rise of Alternative Fuel Vehicles
It's no secret that over the past year, petrol prices have skyrocketed. In fact, nationwide petrol prices have increased by roughly 50% since September 2020.
Different factors, such as discrepancies in refining and retail costs, disruptions in oil distribution, and changes in taxes and state fees, are to blame for the increase in petrol prices.
Whatever the cause, these hikes are making people reevaluate the vehicles they drive and the amount of fuel they consume. As a result, there is an increasing need for alternative-fuel vehicles from drivers who are concerned about the environment and desire clean-air alternatives to gas-powered automobiles as well as from consumers who want to save money at the petrol pump. The global market for alternative fuel vehicles is anticipated to reach a valuation of USD 1341.57 billion by 2030, as per the predictions by Extrapolate.
From the top down, this trend has been fostered. Automakers must now produce vehicles that adhere to more stringent emissions standards and greater gas mileage requirements as a result of stronger state and federal restrictions. Producing automobiles using alternative fuels contributes to meeting these limits, and research into related technologies promotes innovation and wide acceptance.
Federal tax incentives are another factor encouraging consumers to consider alternative-fuel automobiles. If a person has bought a new all-electric or plug-in hybrid car since 2010, they may be eligible for a tax credit at the federal level of up to $7,500. The majority of states also provide grants, tax credits, and refunds as additional incentives for owning alternative-fuel vehicles.
The Energy Department promotes research and development of alternative fuels and vehicle technology in collaboration with academic institutions, for-profit businesses, and National Labs to give people affordable vehicle options. By introducing alternative fuel vehicles and the infrastructure required to support them, the Department works with local communities to lower their oil usage through the Clean Cities program.
Types of Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Alternative-fuel vehicles come in a variety of models for individual buyers, including two-seater sports cars, family sedans, pickup trucks, and sport-utility vehicles.
Hybrid electric vehicles
Gas-electric hybrids (HEVs) are the alternative-fuel vehicles that are most widely used. Hybrid vehicles, which combine a petrol and electric power system, have been commercially accessible in the United States for more than 20 years. The Toyota Prius was the first hybrid car to be mass-produced, debuting in 1997.
With almost 50 models already on the market, the popularity of these hybrid electric vehicles has continued to rise. Gas-electric hybrids use a battery that is charged by the engine and by braking to power the vehicle at low speeds and during stops and starts.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which are similar to gas-electric hybrids in that they have larger batteries, may operate the vehicle solely on electricity for a short distance while emitting no emissions. At the petrol station, owners can fill up their vehicle with ordinary fuel before plugging it in to recharge the battery.
Electric vehicles
EVs, or electric vehicles, do not use a petrol engine at all; instead, they run entirely on battery power. Drivers may have "range anxiety" because electric vehicles (EVs) have a limited number of miles they can travel before they need to be "refueled" by plugging them into an electrical power source. Since they were available in 2010, EVs have become more and more popular as battery technology has extended their driving range and as the number of charging stations has expanded in both cities and along highways.
Fuel cell electric vehicles
Fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), which offer the advantage of zero emissions and the potential for up to three times the efficiency of gas-powered vehicles, have been the subject of years of research and development by the auto industry. The onboard fuel cells in the vehicles run on compressed hydrogen. An electric motor is powered by the fuel cells, which convert hydrogen and oxygen into energy. With vehicles like Toyota's Mirai, Hyundai's Nexo Fuel Cell SUV, and Honda's Clarity Fuel Cell already on the road, fuel cell technology is starting to be seen as a viable option for petrol and electric automobiles. In fact, there are nine such vehicles already on the road.
However, Hyundai Motor has announced a partnership to deploy its most recent XCIEN Fuel Cell-powered hydrogen fuel cell electric heavy-duty vehicles in California. This truck is the first mass-produced hydrogen-fueled vehicle in the world.
Currently, natural gas is used to produce the majority of hydrogen, but emerging technologies, like those created by HyperSolar, may eventually render all fossil fuels unnecessary and make FCEVs the cleanest, greenest vehicles on the road.
Flexible fuel vehicles
In the meanwhile, FFVs (flexible-fuel vehicles) run on a mixture of petrol and ethanol. Ethanol, which is mostly generated from corn, has profited from government regulations requiring that more fuels be produced from renewable sources. Over 3,900 fuelling locations for flex-fuel vehicles are currently available in the United States and Canada.
Final Thoughts
Alternative fuel vehicles have become rays of hope in the quest for a greener and more sustainable future. These cutting-edge transportation options not only address our current environmental problems but also provide us with a peek at what a world powered by renewable energy can be like. The world of transportation is undergoing a tremendous shift, with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles generating just water vapor and electric vehicles gently gliding down the streets.
