Alternative fuel vehicle

Most cars use gas to move. But some cars use other things. These are called alternative fuel vehicles.

Some cars use power from a plug. These cars use big batteries to go.

They do not make dirty smoke.

Other cars use fuel made from plants. This is a special kind of fuel. Some cars can even use a mix of fuels.

People want these cars to help the Earth. They help keep our air clean. This is good for our health.

Many different kinds of cars are being made. They help us travel in new ways.

Most cars run on gasoline or diesel. These are fossil fuels. But many vehicles use different kinds of power. We call these alternative fuel vehicles.

Some cars use biofuels. These are fuels made from plants. For example, some cars use ethanol. Ethanol is a type of fuel made from plants. Some cars are flex-fuel vehicles. These can use a mix of ethanol and gasoline in one tank.

Other cars use electricity. Battery electric vehicles use big batteries for power. They do not have a tailpipe that lets out smoke.

These cars are good for the air. They often have lower greenhouse gas emissions. This helps with climate change.

Some cars use hydrogen. These are called fuel cell vehicles. They use hydrogen fuel to make power.

In 2022, there were 70,200 hydrogen vehicles. South Korea had the most of these cars. Many people want these new cars. They help keep our air clean and our planet healthy.

An alternative fuel vehicle is a motor vehicle that runs on something other than traditional fossil fuels. Most cars use gasoline or diesel, which come from petroleum. Alternative vehicles use different kinds of power to move. These include biofuels like ethanol, hydrogen fuel, or even electricity.

Some people call electric vehicles "alternative energy vehicles" because they use electricity instead of liquid fuel. Using these new ways to power cars is a high priority for many governments. This is because of concerns about air pollution and climate change.

There are many ways these vehicles work. Flexible-fuel vehicles, or FFVs, use an engine that can burn more than one fuel. They often use a mix of ethanol and gasoline in the same tank.

You might see mixtures called E85, which means the fuel is 85% ethanol. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) work differently. They store energy in large battery packs to power an electric motor.

These cars are often called zero emission vehicles because they have no tailpipe emissions. Some researchers are even testing ways to make the car's body act as its own battery.

Vehicle engines have changed a lot over time. Gasoline engines first appeared in the 1860s and 1870s. Before they became common, other engines were used. In the 18th century, people used steam engines. In the early 19th century, some vehicles ran on gases. Even earlier, in the 1830s, electricity was used to power engines. It took until the 1930s for gasoline engines to completely dominate the roads. Modern battery-powered cars have a long history too. People began building modern electric cars in the 1950s.

Many different types of these vehicles are on the road today. By the end of 2022, there were about 159 million alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles sold worldwide.

Over 65 million of these were flex-fuel vehicles. Brazil had the most flex-fuel cars with 38.3 million. There were also over 26 million plug-in electric vehicles. China had 13.8 million of those, while the United States had 3 million. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are also growing. By the end of 2022, there were 70,200 hydrogen vehicles, and South Korea had the most with 29,500.

Learning about these vehicles helps us understand our changing world. We can see how technology moves from old ways to new ways. For example, the Nissan Leaf was a very famous electric car. It was the top-selling highway-capable electric car until December 2019.

We can also look at how a car's whole life affects the planet. This is called a life-cycle assessment. It looks at how a car is made and what happens after it is used. Battery electric vehicles usually have lower greenhouse gas emissions over their whole life than gasoline or diesel cars.

An alternative fuel vehicle is a motor vehicle that uses energy sources other than traditional petroleum-based fossil fuels. Most standard vehicles rely on gasoline, petrodiesel, or liquefied petroleum gas, also known as autogas. Alternative fuel vehicles typically use internal combustion engines or fuel cell technologies. These systems may run on synthetic renewable fuels like biofuels, hydrogen fuel, or "electrofuel." Some people also use the term to describe electric vehicles, such as battery electric vehicles or solar vehicles. However, since these rely on electricity rather than liquid motor fuel, they are often more accurately called alternative energy or new energy vehicles.

To understand how these vehicles work, we must look at their specific mechanisms. Flexible-fuel vehicles, or FFVs, use a multifuel engine. This engine is designed to burn more than one type of fuel. Often, these fuels are mixed together in a single tank before being burned in the combustion chamber. For example, an E85 mixture contains 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. This is different from bi-fuel vehicles, which store two different fuels in separate tanks.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) operate through a different process. These vehicles store energy in the chemical form of electricity within battery packs. This electrical energy then powers an electric motor to move the vehicle. Because they do not burn fuel, BEVs are often called zero emission vehicles. They produce no tailpipe emissions during operation. Different chemistries are used in these battery packs, including lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, and lead-acid.

Researchers are even studying how to use a carbon fiber chassis as a structural battery to reduce vehicle weight.

There are several distinct types of advanced technology vehicles currently in use. Beyond BEVs, there are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). These combine traditional engines with electric motor-generator technologies to improve fuel efficiency. There are also fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) that run on hydrogen fuel. Other research is exploring compressed-air vehicles and range extender vehicles.

Each type represents a different way to manage energy and reduce reliance on petroleum.

History shows that the way we power vehicles has changed many times. Gasoline engines first appeared in the 1860s and 1870s. However, they did not dominate the market until the 1930s. Before gasoline took over, other "alternative" engines were common. Steam engines were used in the 18th century, and gas-powered engines were used in the early 19th century. Even earlier, in the 1830s, electricity was used for propulsion. Modern electric vehicle development also has a long history, with transistor-controlled models appearing in the 1950s.

Global data shows that the transition to these vehicles is happening at a massive scale. By the end of 2022, there were approximately 159 million alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles sold or converted worldwide. This included over 65 million flex-fuel vehicles, with Brazil leading at 38.3 million and the United States at 27 million. There were also over 26 million plug-in electric vehicles. In 2022, annual sales of these vehicles exceeded 10 million, which was a 55% increase from 2021.

Hydrogen FCEVs are a smaller segment, with 70,200 units in existence by the end of 2022.

Understanding these technologies is important for evaluating their impact on the planet. Scientists use a life-cycle assessment to study a vehicle's total impact. This process looks at both the production of the vehicle and its use after it is made. This analysis goes beyond just looking at tailpipe emissions or operating efficiency.

Generally, the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of battery-electric vehicles are lower than those of hydrogen, hybrid, or gasoline vehicles. This makes them a key part of addressing climate change and air pollution.