The electric motor is more than 90% more energy efficient than the combustion engines used by vehicles today. The ordinary combustion engine car today outputs 25 to 30% of the energy from its fuel in the tank. The electric propulsion makes vehicles more efficient and friendlier to the environment.

In 2007, only 2.2% of the market comprised hybrid cars. The automotive sector forecasts a 15% coverage by 2015. Major car manufacturers are gearing towards the development of EVs and the market is responding well with these green cars.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc. is a Tier 1 provider of propulsion systems, alternative fuel cars, energy storage, and equipment supplier.

Quantum has developed an EREV or extended range electric vehicle which makes use of a hybrid plug in system. The Q Drive allows operation of vehicles in pure electric mode. This translates to around 50 miles of coverage in 1 charging. In the US this covers most of the daily trips and may lead to lower emissions in the future.

The Q Drive will be first used in the Fisker Automotive’s Karma. Fisker is a company co-founded by Quantum with auto design genius Henrik Fisker aiming to produce premium American cars. The company is looking at 15000 units of Fisker Karma to be produced starting 2011.

The Fisker Karma has a peak output of 200 kW consistent through out the battery charge. It also combines the EV technology with photovoltaic cells installed on its roof.

Most major auto dealers, including Honda are researching and trying to come out with cars that run successfully on alternative fuels. Honda had unveiled its FCX clarity, a car that is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell at the Los Angeles auto show. Those who are familiar with this show know that the latest alternative fuel ideas are often unveiled over there. The Honda FCX clarity is fashioned on a concept vehicle that had been launched by the company in 2005.

Initially a limited number of these cars will be leased out to some privileged drivers of South California. It will be offered for a lease period of three years at $600 per month. This will make it the first fuel cell driven car that will be available to the general public.

The plan is to convert wood biomass into biodiesel. This business opportunity is actually being studied by Norske Skog for two years now. And now, they are ready to make the plan happen. Norske Skog formed a subsidiary, the Xynergo to handle the company’s biodiesel division. Norske Skog owns 70% of that company while forest owners hold the remainder. The goal is to create biodiesel out of the woody biomass currently used as a feedstock. The production of Norske Skog is slated to start in April of the next year.

Norway is one of the world market leaders when it comes to pulp and paper production. Now, they are maximizing the use of their natural resources to further help the nation. This time, they are into producing fuel for vehicles out of the same materials used in making paper. Soon enough, they would be less dependent on imported oil just like other countries that have jumpstarted the production and integration of biodiesel in local fuel stations.

Jatropha is not an edible plant. It produces a rather poisonous sap and has a small, rounded fruit as big as a cherry. It is very abundant in Haiti and the entire Caribbean region. The seeds of Jatropha can produce oil, which can serve as the raw ingredient for biodiesel.

Right now, the U.S. and the rest of the nations interested in using alternative fuel are studying the characteristics of this plant in order to cultivate them in their own soils. Just recently, the U.S. has partnered with Brazil to help countries that enjoy the abundance of the Jatropha plant to process them into biodiesel. Such countries are Haiti, El Salvador, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Domican Republic. Once these countries became strong producers of biodiesel, it won’t be long for them to become independent of importing gasoline themselves.

The trend in the Schoharie County, as far as the vehicle industry, is to go green. With a pit stop now offering biodiesel, more car users should be tempted to use alternative fuel for their car.

Coming from renewable energy, biodiesel is much cleaner, more efficient, and a lot more popular these days. In fact, Pete Lopez, the assemblyman for the Schoharie Country is promoting its use. Furthermore, he uses no other fuel for his car.

Part of the plan of Schoharie County is to make all the operators and owners of the public buses to run only on biodiesel. If that one went smoothly, then the entire fleet of the county, especially the one used for public works, will be fueled by biodiesel alone.

With this development, it is clear to see that counties and the whole nation in general, is doing its share to promote alternative fuel that is more practical to use and is a lot more environment-friendly.

Scheduled to kick-off on September 26 in Fairmont, this nationwide biennial event will grace the Technology Park Research Center this time around. The venue will be streaming with information, latest technologies, and formal education about non-gasoline options for your car. The event will also feature products and items that are currently available in the market right now, including the ones that are yet to be released. 

Products that will be on display are alternative fuels like compressed natural gas and biodiesel, among many others. There will be many companies and organizations that will participate in the event. There will also be a showroom of vehicles that can run on plug-in electric outlets.

The previous Alternative Fuel Odyssey was held in 2006 and it had attracted more than 40,000 attendees. That event was participated by 60 sites and 3 countries. Set to be a week-long occasion, the event will feature a total of 85 simultaneous events all across the US and Canada. 

Also included in this bill known as the House Resolution 6899 is a section that mandates gasoline stations to have at least one pump to sell alternative fuel to consumers in every station. The projected implementation date of this bill is in 2018. Major gas stations such as BP and Shell are expected to comply. Alternative fuel would mean natural gas, ethanol, biodesel, or hydrogen.

Should the gas dealers fail to follow this mandate major fines in the amount of $100,000 is going to be bestowed upon them. But looking on the bright side, should the same company choose to add an ethanol or E85 pump in each of their stations, a tax credit worth $50,000 will be granted.

This makes the Volt as the latest addition to the potent collection of today’s biodiesel cars. Biodiesel gas, which is mockingly referred to as the frying pan fuel, is currently making raves today as the cheapest and most environment-friendly car fuel. It is even possible to make such a fuel out of your own home – all you really need is a good electric heater and the necessary compounds, of course.

However, the Volt is more of an electric car than anything else. The biodiesel fuel loaded to it is normally used as back up. General Motors say that the Volt can run on 40 miles on a full battery charge. Essentially, its battery cells can answer the daily mileage requirements of everyday car uses. Its biodiesel gas, on the other hand, can answer for the long ride requirements and for the usual mistake of forgetting to charge the car.

The main objective of the project is to create an alternative fuel that can power cars. Raw materials to be used would come from nuisance plants, crop residues, wood, animal waste, cotton gin trashes, including human and animal wastes. Certain non-food products and organic items will be tested as well.

The group is looking to create volumes of liquids that can be refined and converted into diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, or anything that can be used to run a vehicle. The group wanted to compete directly with imported gasoline, both in cost effectiveness and functionality. Just recently, they were able to create alternative fuel out of wood chips that is very similar to diesel and gasoline. However, this development inside the lab has to be tested in larger scales to be proven effective.