Americans already know that we must reduce our reliance on petroleum for a variety of reasons. There are a lot of alternatives to the traditional gasoline engine, but thus far none of them has proven itself the clear leader. Here are the pros and cons of some of the top contenders.

Hydrogen fuel cells

Pros: Cost per mile is much lower than for a traditional vehicle. EVs produce no emissions. Cars can be charged at home.

Cons: Cost of cars is high dues to expensive batteries. It takes a long time to recharge and range is limited. Although electricity can be produced using renewable resources, many power companies currently use coal to produce it.

Ethanol

Pros: Ethanol can be made domestically from corn, in the future might be produced from other food or waste products. E10, which is a 10% blend, can be burned in any new car. Many cars currently on the road can operate on E85.

Cons: Hybrids cost more than conventional automobiles, requiring a large investment up front. Many people have been frustrated because their hybrids don’t get the gas mileage they expect.

Plug-in hybrids

Pros: Plug-in hybrids can be charged at home. When they’re running on electric power, they have low operating costs and no emissions. They have up to a 40-mile all-electric range, which is good enough for most people most of the time. A gasoline engine can extend the range for long trips.

Cons: The cost is higher than that of conventional vehicles due high-priced batteries. Charging car batteries could strain existing electric grid, especially if done during daytime hours. The gas mileage depends to a great extent on driving habits, and drivers often don’t get the mileage they expect.

Plug-in hybrids

Pros: Hybrids use gas, which is nice because we have gas pumps across the country. They drive like regular cars, so consumers aren’t being asked to make a major change. Hybrid vehicles can get great fuel economy.

Cons: Diesel cars have historically had more vibration and engine noise than gasoline cars. The relatively high cost of diesel fuel can reduce the financial benefits of the improved fuel economy.

Plug-in hybrids

Pros: Plug-in hybrids can be charged at home. When they’re using electric power, they have no emissions and have lower per mile operating costs. Their range is up to 40 miles on electric power, which is sufficient for most people most of the time. A gasoline engine can extend range for lengthy trips.

Cons: E85 gets about 25% lower fuel economy than gasoline. E85 is not readily available, since very few gas stations carry it. The federal government offers credits to automakers for E85 cars, but meeting those standards lowers overall fuel economy for all cars. Food prices could rise as a result of mass production of any product made from food crops. Increased crop production requires the use of farm equipment, which run on gasoline.

Diesel/biodiesel

Pros: Natural gas burns much cleaner than gasoline, costs much less, and provides comparable power.

Cons: Diesel cars have historically had more vibration and engine noise than gasoline cars. The relatively high cost of diesel fuel can reduce the financial benefits of the improved fuel economy.

Natural Gas

Pros: Hydrogen cars get very good fuel economy - about twice that of gasoline cars. They produce no emissions - just water vapor. Hydrogen is abundant and some of it can be made from renewable energy.

Cons: Large amounts of natural gas are required, so cars must have huge gas tanks, which reduce space available for other uses. Refueling takes a long time due to the amount of fuel required. Natural gas cars have a limited range. There are very few refueling stations available.

Most of these alternative vehicles involve additional initial costs, which is only viable if the consumer can reasonably expect to recoup the cost over time. So far in the U.S., hybrids are in the lead, with electric cars gaining popularity. Diesel engines have been practical in other countries for a long time. Only time will tell which technologies are practical and cost effective.

Written by Hannah Valez. Green Bay Ford Bay Area Volvo

At the beginning of 2008 the average price of gas was about $3 a gallon, and we all saw how the prices skyrocketed from there nearing $5 a gallon nation-wide. If you were like most people, looking for an alternative fuel to gasoline was sounding like a good idea. But I was fine, and it was because I had already invested in a CNG car and was getting on average $0.75 a gallon equivalent.

We took advantage of the great gas prices we could get while most everyone else was conserving or paying loads of money on their gas. During the summer of 2008 my husband and I took trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, Arches National Park, Utah, Los Angeles, California, Boise, Idaho and many others. Gas prices weren’t an issue because we were paying 3-4 times less for natural gas than regular gas. Plus, almost everywhere we went there were natural gas stations where we could fill up our CNG car. A good example of this is in the summer time we took a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. From Provo, Utah to Las Vegas it is about 380 miles. With gas prices being around $3.75, this trip would have cost us $120.00. Instead of paying that price, we took our natural gas car with the natural gas price being $0.87 gallon equivalent, and the trip cost us $30.00. We could spend money in Vegas and have some fun instead of spending money on gas to get there.

As the fall of 2008 approached, gas prices were still enormously high. Funds were looking slim as my husband and I started our semester of college. With my husband starting his own businesses, and me doing my student teaching and not working, neither one of us would be making much income for the upcoming semester. On top of everything else, gas prices were at their record high, and I would be driving 30 miles to and from my school for student teaching. Our saving grace at this time ” our CNG car. It’s not a Ferrari or Mercedes, but it became our star commuter car. While other classmates carpooled to their schools, having to wait for each other and coordinate schedules, I enjoyed driving myself and going where I wanted, whenever I wanted.

While we would normally be paying over $200 a month for fuel, our CNG car was costing us about $40 a month. Having an extra $160 a month during that time was a real blessing to us. Even though our income has really improved since then, having those extra savings every time I fill up my car is great. Especially when I know that I am doing my part in polluting less.

After using a CNG car for the last couple of years, I can’t see why I would ever go back to gasoline cars. This is probably why I’ve seen so many more cng cars out on the road, you know, the cars with the light blue diamond that says CNG in the middle. The real question is, “why don’t more people use CNG Cars?” Especially in this economy when you can drastically reduce one more expense.

I’ve owned CNG cars for a couple years now, my husband’s family has owned them for much longer. There are many different ways to go about purchasing CNG cars. There are used and new cars, you can also get your current car converted (costs around $6K). Also, coming the alternative fuel market soon is the CNG Roadster, it get 70 mpg and runs on CNG. Reserve it soon though.