Biodiesel 101
An alternative fuel formulated exclusively for diesel engines, biodiesel is made from vegetable oil or animal fats. Got a diesel vehicle? You have an alternative fuel vehicle by default.
Biomass 101Bio-what? Think plants! Yes, plants and plant-derived material is what it’s all about—and harnessing all that energy captured by photosynthesis.
Blends 101Blends are mixtures of traditional and alternative fuels in varying percentages, like biodiesel blends of B5 or B20. Blends can be thought of as transitional fuels since they work with current technologies while paving the way for future integration.
Electricity 101Electricity is considered an alternative fuel since it is used to charge the batteries that power the motors in electric vehicles.
Ethanol 101Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is an alternative fuel made from corn, grains or agricultural waste and is used primarily as a supplement to gasoline.
Hydrogen 101Remember the periodic table? Find the H and you've found the most abundant element on earth. Hydrogen is an elemental gas that is extracted from other compounds, not manufactured in the traditional sense like other fuels.
Methanol 101Methanol (methyl alcohol) is an alternative fuel made from woody plant fiber, coal or natural gas and is used primarily as a supplement to gasoline.
Natural Gas 101Natural gas can be used as a motor fuel in two forms: compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Propane 101While you probably are most familiar with it as a fuel for your gas barbecue grill and home appliances, propane is also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and is a by-product of natural gas and crude oil refining.
P-series Fuel 101Although they are not yet widely used or manufactured, P-series fuels were added to the list of Energy Policy Act (EPAct) recognized alternative fuels in 1999.