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Triangle Commute Solution: Alternative Fuels
Alternative fuels are being used today in place of gasoline and diesel fuel made from petroleum. The U.S. Department of Energy classifies the following fuels as "alternative fuels": biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, methanol, natural gas, propane, p-series, and solar energy. Using these alternative fuels can help our nation reduce its dependence on imported petroleum and improve air quality: Biodiesel Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel (B20) can be used in unmodified diesel engines, or biodiesel can be used in its pure form (B100), but may require certain engine modifications to avoid maintenance and performance problems. Electricity Electricity can be used as a transportation fuel to power battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. When used to power electric vehicles or EVs, electricity is stored in an energy storage device such as a battery. EV batteries have a limited storage capacity and must be replenished by plugging the vehicle into a recharging unit. The electricity for recharging the batteries can come from the existing power grid, or from distributed renewable sources such as solar or wind energy. Fuel cell vehicles use electricity produced from an electrochemical reaction that takes place when hydrogen and oxygen are combined in the fuel cell "stack." The production of electricity using fuel cells takes place without combustion or pollution and leaves only two byproducts, heat and water. Ethanol Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feedstocks for this fuel include corn, barley and wheat. Ethanol can also be produced from "cellulosic biomass" such as trees and grasses and is called bioethanol. Ethanol is most commonly used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline. In some areas of the United States, ethanol is blended with gasoline to form an E10 blend (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline), but it can be used in higher concentrations such as E85 or E95. Original equipment manufacturers produce flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on E85 or any other combination of ethanol and gasoline. Hydrogen Hydrogen gas (H2) will play an important role in developing sustainable transportation in the United States, because it can be produced in virtually unlimited quantities using renewable resources. Pure hydrogen and hydrogen mixed with natural gas (Hythane®) have been used effectively to power automobiles. However, hydrogen's real potential rests in its future role as fuel for fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen and oxygen fed into a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell "stack" produces enough electricity to power an electric automobile, without producing harmful emissions. Methanol Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, has been used as an alternative fuel in flexible fuel vehicles that run on M85 (a blend of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline). However, it is not commonly used as such because automakers no longer are supplying methanol-powered vehicles. Methanol can also be used to make MTBE, an oxygenate which is blended with gasoline to enhance octane and create cleaner burning fuel. MTBE production and use has declined due to the fact that it has been found to contaminate ground water. In the future, methanol could possibly be the fuel of choice for providing the hydrogen necessary to power fuel cell vehicles. Natural Gas (CNG/LNG) Domestically produced and readily available to end-users through the existing utility infrastructure, natural gas has become increasingly popular as an alternative transportation fuel. Natural gas is also clean burning and produces significantly fewer harmful emissions than reformulated gasoline. Natural gas can either be stored on board a vehicle in tanks as compressed natural gas (CNG) or cryogenically cooled to a liquid state, liquefied natural gas (LNG). Propane (LPG) Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a popular alternative fuel choice because an infrastructure of pipelines, processing facilities, and storage already exists for its efficient distribution. Besides being readily available to the general public, LPG produces fewer vehicle emissions than reformulated gasoline. Propane is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. P-Series P-Series fuel is a unique blend of natural gas liquids (pentanes plus), ethanol, and a biomass-derived co-solvent (MTHF). P-Series is made primarily from renewable resources and provides significant emissions benefits over reformulated gasoline. Solar Energy Solar energy technologies use sunlight to produce heat and electricity. Electricity produced by solar energy through photovoltaic technologies can be used in conventional electric vehicles. Using solar energy directly to power vehicles has been investigated primarily for competition and demonstration vehicles. Solar vehicles are not available to the general public, and are not currently being considered by OEMs for production. However, solar vehicles have been developed and used in several competitions including the American Solar Challenge and the World Solar Challenge. Alternative Fuel Vehicles on the Road or Nearing Completion (http://www.afdc.doe.gov/pdfs/my2003_afvs.pdf) Triangle Clean Cities Coalition (http://www.trianglecleancities.org) Mission Statement - The mission of the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition (TCCC) is to support the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program and promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) in the Triangle Region by creating partnerships to develop the AFV market and related infrastructure. Members include Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Carolina Power and Light, US EPA, and many other businesses, organizations and individuals. For more information, contact Anne Tazewell, Triangle Clean Cities Coordinator, annet@tjcog.org or call (919) 558-9400. Additional Resources The Alternative Fuels Data Center (http://www.afdc.doe.gov/) The Alternative Fuels Data Center is a one-stop shop for all your alternative fuel and vehicle information needs. This site has more than 3,000 documents in its database, an interactive fuel station mapping system, listings of available alternative fuel vehicles, links to related Web sites, and much more. Clean Cities Program (http://www.ccities.doe.gov/) The U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program supports public-private partnerships that deploy alternative fuel vehicles and build supporting alternative fuel infrastructure. Our site features information about local coalitions and clean corridors, alternative fuel news and events, fleet success stories, support and funding, tips for starting a coalition in your area, available alternative fuel vehicles, related links and more. U.S. Department of Energy Hybrid Electric Vehicle Program (http://www.ott.doe.gov/hev/)

Triangle Commute Solution: Alternative Fuels

Alternative fuels are being used today in place of gasoline and diesel fuel made from petroleum. The U.S. Department of Energy classifies the following fuels as "alternative fuels": biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, methanol, natural gas, propane, p-series, and solar energy. Using these alternative fuels can help our nation reduce its dependence on imported petroleum and improve air quality:

Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics. Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel (B20) can be used in unmodified diesel engines, or biodiesel can be used in its pure form (B100), but may require certain engine modifications to avoid maintenance and performance problems.

Electricity
Electricity can be used as a transportation fuel to power battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. When used to power electric vehicles or EVs, electricity is stored in an energy storage device such as a battery. EV batteries have a limited storage capacity and must be replenished by plugging the vehicle into a recharging unit. The electricity for recharging the batteries can come from the existing power grid, or from distributed renewable sources such as solar or wind energy. Fuel cell vehicles use electricity produced from an electrochemical reaction that takes place when hydrogen and oxygen are combined in the fuel cell "stack." The production of electricity using fuel cells takes place without combustion or pollution and leaves only two byproducts, heat and water.

Ethanol
Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feedstocks for this fuel include corn, barley and wheat. Ethanol can also be produced from "cellulosic biomass" such as trees and grasses and is called bioethanol. Ethanol is most commonly used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline. In some areas of the United States, ethanol is blended with gasoline to form an E10 blend (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline), but it can be used in higher concentrations such as E85 or E95. Original equipment manufacturers produce flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on E85 or any other combination of ethanol and gasoline.

Hydrogen
Hydrogen gas (H2) will play an important role in developing sustainable transportation in the United States, because it can be produced in virtually unlimited quantities using renewable resources. Pure hydrogen and hydrogen mixed with natural gas (Hythane®) have been used effectively to power automobiles. However, hydrogen's real potential rests in its future role as fuel for fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen and oxygen fed into a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell "stack" produces enough electricity to power an electric automobile, without producing harmful emissions.

Methanol
Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, has been used as an alternative fuel in flexible fuel vehicles that run on M85 (a blend of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline). However, it is not commonly used as such because automakers no longer are supplying methanol-powered vehicles. Methanol can also be used to make MTBE, an oxygenate which is blended with gasoline to enhance octane and create cleaner burning fuel. MTBE production and use has declined due to the fact that it has been found to contaminate ground water. In the future, methanol could possibly be the fuel of choice for providing the hydrogen necessary to power fuel cell vehicles.

Natural Gas (CNG/LNG)
Domestically produced and readily available to end-users through the existing utility infrastructure, natural gas has become increasingly popular as an alternative transportation fuel. Natural gas is also clean burning and produces significantly fewer harmful emissions than reformulated gasoline. Natural gas can either be stored on board a vehicle in tanks as compressed natural gas (CNG) or cryogenically cooled to a liquid state, liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Propane (LPG)
Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a popular alternative fuel choice because an infrastructure of pipelines, processing facilities, and storage already exists for its efficient distribution. Besides being readily available to the general public, LPG produces fewer vehicle emissions than reformulated gasoline. Propane is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining.

P-Series
P-Series fuel is a unique blend of natural gas liquids (pentanes plus), ethanol, and a biomass-derived co-solvent (MTHF). P-Series is made primarily from renewable resources and provides significant emissions benefits over reformulated gasoline.

Solar Energy
Solar energy technologies use sunlight to produce heat and electricity. Electricity produced by solar energy through photovoltaic technologies can be used in conventional electric vehicles. Using solar energy directly to power vehicles has been investigated primarily for competition and demonstration vehicles. Solar vehicles are not available to the general public, and are not currently being considered by OEMs for production. However, solar vehicles have been developed and used in several competitions including the American Solar Challenge and the World Solar Challenge.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles on the Road or Nearing Completion (http://www.afdc.doe.gov/pdfs/my2003_afvs.pdf)

Triangle Clean Cities Coalition (http://www.trianglecleancities.org)
Mission Statement - The mission of the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition (TCCC) is to support the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program and promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) in the Triangle Region by creating partnerships to develop the AFV market and related infrastructure. Members include Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Carolina Power and Light, US EPA, and many other businesses, organizations and individuals. For more information, contact Anne Tazewell, Triangle Clean Cities Coordinator, annet@tjcog.org or call (919) 558-9400.

Additional Resources

The Alternative Fuels Data Center (http://www.afdc.doe.gov/)
The Alternative Fuels Data Center is a one-stop shop for all your alternative fuel and vehicle information needs. This site has more than 3,000 documents in its database, an interactive fuel station mapping system, listings of available alternative fuel vehicles, links to related Web sites, and much more.

Clean Cities Program (http://www.ccities.doe.gov/)
The U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program supports public-private partnerships that deploy alternative fuel vehicles and build supporting alternative fuel infrastructure. Our site features information about local coalitions and clean corridors, alternative fuel news and events, fleet success stories, support and funding, tips for starting a coalition in your area, available alternative fuel vehicles, related links and more.

U.S. Department of Energy Hybrid Electric Vehicle Program (http://www.ott.doe.gov/hev/)