> Alternative Energy Cars

Author:John Van Schaik

Getting Through The Alternatives—What Are They? We all know by now that we’re supposed to be driving them, everybody is talking about them, but everyone seems to be talking about a different them!!! We break down all of them in this article, along with the pros and cons. Over the coming months we will feature one of them each month.

Most of us are interested in saving money and cutting down on pollution. The main issue to be concerned about though, when exploring alternative energy, is cost. Many vehicles carry a premium price with them and, depending on how many miles you drive, will never save you money compared to a gasoline-powered car. Also, some technologies impact the world in other ways—we will explore the trade-off.

Electric - One of the cleanest energy options out there, electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions. The creation of the original power to the country’s energy grid would be the only source of emissions related to the electric car. The one issue with these vehicles is overall range, which is being met with quick-charging stations as well as battery switch-out stations—look for these options in the near future.

• (EVs) Plug-in electric vehicles that use electric provided by batteries you charge in order to power their electric motor. These vehicles are quiet and great for shorter trips around town to run errands, since they have a limited range before requiring a charge. Currently, none of the major auto manufacturers have a model available, but Telsa is now shipping their roadster model and taking orders for their model “S” for 2011 delivery.

Watch video below to see Jay Leno's Telsa # 1...

 

• (NEVs) Neighborhood electric vehicles are available and are great for running errands or local driving. Their use is limited to 35 mph roadways or off-road applications. A great resource for finding your NEV is EVFinder.com. They have dozens of manufacturers available, along with reviews on their latest products

Check out EV and NEV incentives and laws here

Hybrid Electric - By far one of the more dominant technologies currently being developed and produced in various forms. Most people are aware of the Toyota Prius and its amazing acceptance in the marketplace.

• (HEVs) are now available through numerous manufacturers and in many forms. The technology combines a conventional power plant, fueled by gas or diesel, in combination with a battery, generator and electric motor. The conventional motor can be smaller, since it powers the generator to create energy stored in the batteries only to power the electric motor for acceleration and passing, thus saving fuel.

Compare Hybrids Side By Side Here by model year

Check out HEV incentives and laws here

• (PHEVs) - This may be worth waiting for—the Plug-In Hybrid. This technology offers the plug-in option for charging your batteries, so you can operate in pure EV Mode around town. You can also switch to Eco Mode for a managed solution, utilizing both, or a Power Mode when you want a sportier feel. This will be available in the 2010 Toyota Prius.

Check out the new 2010 Prius Here!

Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) - These vehicles are capable of running on gasoline or E-85 (a combination of Ethanol-85% and Gas-15%). The vehicles have one fuel system, which can run on either fuel or a combination of the two. This eliminates the need to empty the tank of one fuel source, in order to utilize the other. The E-85 has just as much power as conventional gas, but does lack the fuel efficiency. Although you get a cleaner burn, it is a more expensive option!

See what it will cost you to run an E-85 vehicle here