Alternative fuel vehicle Facts for Kids

Alternative fuel vehicles are vehicles that use energy that comes from something other than petroleum (oil). (Gasoline and diesel fuel come from petroleum). Most of the alternative energy does not need to be imported from other countries, so money stays in the country. Some (but not all) come from renewable sources. Many produce less pollution than gasoline or diesel.

Alternative fuel vehicles cover a wide range of engines and motors.

Electric vehicle - no pollution from the car, but there can be some pollution where the electricity is made
Natural gas vehicle - a fossil fuel, but burns much cleaner than gasoline, and there is more natural gas available than petroleum
Biodiesel vehicle - diesel fuel that comes from plant (or sometimes animal) oils
Ethanol vehicle - quite often ethanol is mixed with gasoline, from 10% to 85% ethanol (called E10 or E85)
Methanol vehicle - Methanol and ethanol are used in many of the fastest race cars
Butanol vehicle - similar to ethanol and methanol, this can be made from many biofuels, but is not commonly used
Hydrogen car - also called a fuel cell vehicle, or FCV
Compressed air vehicle - this technology works, but vehicles are still in the demonstration stage, and range can be a problem
Propane (or liquefied petroleum gas, LPG)

Also, there are bicycles, rickshaws, and two and three-wheeled human powered vehicles.

Images for kids

Brazil is the world's leader in flexible-fuel car sales, with cumulative sales totalling 25.5 million units as of June 2015^[update] .
The Tesla Model 3 all-electric car is the world's all-time best-selling plug-in electric car with about 950,000 units sold as of March 2021^[update].
The Peugeot 2008 HYbrid air prototype replaced conventional hybrid batteries with a compressed air propulsion system
General Motors EV1 electric car.
The Nissan Leaf was the world's top selling highway-capable all-electric car until December 2019.
Nuna team at a racecourse.
Nuna solar powered car, which has travelled up to 140km/h (84mph).
Trev's battery lasts over 250,000 kilometres.
Installation of BioDME synthesis towers at Chemrec's pilot facility
Ammoniacal Gas Engine Streetcar in New Orleans drawn by Alfred Waud in 1871.
The X-15 aircraft used ammonia as one component fuel of its rocket engine
The Ford Model T was the first commercial flex-fuel vehicle. The engine was capable of running on gasoline or ethanol, or a mix of both.
The 1996 Ford Taurus was the first flexible-fuel vehicle produced with versions capable of running with either ethanol (E85) or methanol (M85) blended with gasoline.
E85 fuel sold at a regular gasoline station in Washington, D.C..
Bus running on soybean biodiesel
Biodiesel (B20) pump in the U.S.
Buses powered with CNG are common in the United States.
A propane-fueled school bus in the United States.
The 2009 Honda FCX Clarity is a hydrogen fuel cell automobile launched to the market in 2008.
Hydrogen fueling station in California.
Sequel, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle from General Motors.
The Hyundai ix35 FCEV was released for leasing in the U.S. in 2014.
The Toyota Mirai is one of the first hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to be sold commercially to retail customers, initially, only in Japan and California.
Mars rover Curiosity driven by radioisotope thermoelectric generators
The Stanley Steamer car
Wind powered vehicles for recreational purposes
Vehicle with a gasifier
Typical labeling used in the US to identify E85 vehicles. Top left: a small sticker in the back of the fuel filler door. Bottom left: the bright yellow gas cap used in newer models. E85 Flexfuel badging used in newer models from Chrysler (top right), Ford (middle right) and GM (bottom right).
US E85FlexFuel Chevrolet Impala LT 2009.
The Honda CG 150 Titan Mix was the first flex-fuel motorcycle launched to the market in the world.
The Toyota Prius is the world's best-selling hybrid electric vehicle, with global sales of almost 4 million units through January 2017.

Alternative fuel vehicle facts for kids

Images for kids

See also