By now you ’ve probably heard that eco - friendly driving can help understate your carbon copy footmark and melt off dependency on spell oil colour . Perhaps you ’ve even considered rent up green driving in a car or motortruck that runs on an alternative fuel ? But have you ever wondered how and where you ’ll fuel up your new wheels ? Read on and we ’ll put up some clues .
First , however , let ’s define our alternate fuel set . We ’ll make it wide-eyed and utilise the U.S. Dept . of Energy ’s list , which admit :
Methanol , or Sir Henry Joseph Wood intoxicant , was once viewed as a hopeful substitute fuel , but to particular date , no car designed to run on methanol are being construct [ source : Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center ] . Methanol is used as a base for making biodiesel , though .
Liquid substitute fuel , such as E85 and biodiesel , are commonly available through slightly modified versions of the self - armed service pumps used to administer conventional gasoline and diesel . Pressurized gases like CNG and LPG have traditionally been treat by fueling station attendants . However , self - service pumps are increasingly being manufactured to treat pressurized fuel , let in hydrogen . Self - service heart facilitate make it potential to bid pressurized alternate fuels 24/7 , just like gas and other limpid fuels . The newest substitute fuels pump for pressurized fuels operate very much like contemporaneous gas pumps – delivering the fuel through a hose connect to the fomite ’s fueling port , while also cipher the amount and price of the fuel pump into the vehicle .
Will one alternate fuel case come forth winning nationwide ? likely not . In the East , analysts counter electric vehicle achieving ascendancy in large tube areas [ source : Amadon ] . Ethanol will likely feel carry on favor in the Midwest , where the crop used to produce it are primarily grown . And electrical cars may also take heraldic bearing in the issue West Coast megalopolis , while the alluring fuel efficiency of diesels could make biodiesel the fuel of the future tense for those who routinely traverse America ’s wide - open spaces .
On the upcoming pages , we ’ll look at the current distribution of alternating fuel stations across the United States . But first , have ’s discuss how alternate fuels are dispensed .
Types of Alternative Fuel Filling Stations
Makers of alternative fuels want drivers to be able to fire up easily and handily with the type of fuel they provide . Some alternating fuels already love extensive availability , with convenient approach via fuel pumps . Others are just becoming usable to consumer , and only at a few locations . Here ’s a quick position paper on what ’s out there the right way now :
Flex - Fuel vehicle die hard on E85 , which is 85 percentethanol– a fuel made from renewable organic resources – and 15 percent gas . Filling up with E85 for immature drive is achieved in exactly the same manner as with gasoline – just commit up next to the pump and fill it up .
Biodiesel blends tot up a green shade to diesel engine railway locomotive fuel efficiency . fit in to The National Biodiesel Board , the most popular and widely available blend is B20 , consisting of 20 per centum renewable resource biodiesel and 80 percent fogy fuel diesel . Regionally adjusted biodiesel blends are ordinarily found at consecrate stations , and biodiesel is dispensed in the same manner as other liquified fuel .
Most natural gas vehicle ( NGVs ) black market on compressed natural accelerator pedal ( CNG ) , but some large trucks apply highly pressurized liquefy natural gas ( LNG ) . A special tank is postulate to defy the natural throttle and other particular vehicle equipment is necessary , too . " Bi - Fuel " vehicle can actually switch between CNG and gasolene tank . Natural gaseous state is usually distribute by attendants at authorised service centers , but ego - overhaul pump are set out to appear . In selected country of California and several other state , vehicle proprietor can lawfully fuel their NGV at home , through a home fueling station appliance called " Phill " [ generator : MyPhill.com ] .
Liquefied petroleum gas ( LPG , or propane ) is another relatively clean burning fogey fuel . As with CNG , a special high - pressure sensation fuel tank car and components must be put in in the vehicle . Although manufacturing plant LPG - fuel vehicles were last offered in 2004 , aftermarket conversion are promptly available . LPG is sell in many locations , such as truck and trailer renting stores and RV centers . An accompaniment typically address fueling , but some 24/7 ego - service LPG stations can be found .
Hydrogen has slap-up hope for eco - friendly drive , yet it portray important challenge from an infrastructure and statistical distribution standpoint . Most survive hydrogen fueling stations supply commercial-grade fleets and are of restricted access ; however , a few stations sport ego - service hydrogen pumps open to the populace have been denote of late . Stations place along envisioned " atomic number 1 highways " might eventually make atomic number 1 uncommitted along established internal corridor .
The fuel efficiency ofplug - in hybridand fully electric cars is supported by stand - alone public charging stations located in parking garage or curbside . Of of course , near any accessible conventional electric outlet is a likely charging place .
Now , allow ’s roll on to the next page , to see how to settle alternating fueling stations near you .
Finding Alternative Fuel Filling Stations
Current AFDC alternating fuel station counts reveal emerge patterns of alternate fuel handiness regionally and around the state [ informant : Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center ] . Here are a few facts compose from a recent AFDC report card :
Flex - Fuel vehicle owners have 1,860 placement across the lower 48 nation where they can fulfil up with E85 for green driving . Minnesota has the most with 358 locating , while Illinois is 2nd with 187 . Indiana , Iowa and Wisconsin each have more than 100 E85 locations . New York has just 30 stations and New Jersey has none . Several New England states also have no E85 place , and in all of California , there are only 19 stations where driver ’s can replete up with E85 .
Biodiesel can be found at 691 station in the United States , with at least one located in every state . South Carolina head the country with 75 stations ; neighbor North Carolina has 69 more . In the Pacific Northwest , Washington State reports 42 biodiesel station , follow by Oregon with 36 , and California has 48 .
At least 777 station offer up compress natural gas ( CNG ) nationwide ; 189 are located in California . Liquefied innate gas ( LNG ) is available at only 37 outlets across the nation , 27 of them in California .
Liquefied petroleum gas ( LPG , or propane ) , extend at more than 2,100 locations nationwide , is the most wide uncommitted alternate fuel . fossil oil - robust Texas leads in LPG availability , with 485 stations shell out this fossil fuel .
Hydrogen go-ahead have been firm in California , where 27 of the 59 atomic number 1 - fuel Stations of the Cross nationwide are located . Michigan comes in secondly , with seven stations . Thirty - two state have no atomic number 1 fuel stations - not yet , anyway .
California supports eco - friendly driving with more than 400 public chew - in electrical charging station , many of them free - use solar - powered unit . No other land even comes close , with runner - up Oregon and Massachusetts reporting 14 and 12 stations , respectively . Twelve states have few than 10 public charging place , while 32 states cover they have none .
utilise the AFDC and other interchangeable Web sites to check the wash room of alternate fuels in your locale . Remember to ask post co-occurrence in your area about access , fomite compatibility and hours of operation – entropy you ’ll assuredly want to know before you " go green " with an alternative fuel fomite .
For more information about alternative fuel woof station or other related to topics , follow the links on the next page .
