Electric Cars: Other Types of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Other Types of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

As the environment becomes more and more polluted and our natural resources dwindle away, several types of alternative fuel vehicles have emerged. None of these vehicles is perfect, and not all of them are pollution free, but they do represent an improvement over gas-powered cars and becoming more popular in heavily polluted areas.

Solar Powered Vehicles
Of all the alternative fuel vehicles on the road today, solar powered vehicles are generally the most expensive. This is due to the fact that the solar cells that they use to produce energy have a very low power output when compared to other types of power sources, so the vehicle must be very efficient and literally be covered with solar panels. Being dependent upon the sunlight also limits where and when these vehicles can be used. Due to their low power production, solar cars have not really made it to the consumer market, but they are used in many races in states like Arizona.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Hybrid vehicles are a combination of a gasoline-powered vehicle and an electric car. The vehicle works exactly like an EV with the addition of an ICE constantly recharging the batteries. This combination increases the range of the vehicle at the cost of producing some pollution. The engine in hybrid vehicles is relatively small compared to most gas-powered cars and does not produce near as much pollution as a standard ICE. In addition, the ICE does not run while the vehicle is idle.

Natural Gas Powered Vehicles
Unlike most alternative fueled vehicles, natural gas powered vehicles are at an advantage to not only having the lowest converting cost , but as well as a range of up to 150 miles fully charged. But because of cost of fuel, fewer charging stations are available, as well as mechanics who are specialized in repairing or converting vehicles to natural gas. Very similar to gasoline powered vehicles, natural gas vehicles have many of the same drawbacks as gas-powered cars: noise, heat, contaminated oil, and disposable parts.