Alternative Fuel Vehicles

There is a growing trend toward pushing people to use new alternative fuels to power their vehicles.  Alternative fuel burns cleaner, is better for the environment, and, in many cases, can be cheaper than gasoline.  But not just any car will run on alternative fuels.  The engine must be constructed in a different way to adapt to the new substance that it will be running on.

Almost all big car companies have jumped  on to the alternative fuel bandwagon by manufacturing a variety of vehicles designed especially to run on alternative fuel.  They are called alternative fuel vehicles or AFVs for short.

Some vehicles are strictly designed and built to run on nothing but alternative fuel while others can run on either gasoline or alternative fuel making them a hybrid car.

Here is a list of some of the alternative fuel or “green” vehicles manufactured by some of the major car companies:

• Honda Insight
• Honda Accord Hybrid
• Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Series
• Dodge Stratus Sedan
• Dodge Durango SUV
• Dodge Caravan Minivan
• Ford Taurus
• Ford F-150 Pickup
• Ford Escape SUV
• GM Impala
• Chevrolet Silverado 4 x 2
• Chevrolet Tahoe SUV
• Chevy Yukon SUV
• Nissan Titan Pickup
• Toyota Highlander SUV
• Toyota Prius

And these are truly just a few of the alternative fuel vehicles that are on the market.  There are more being designed and manufactured every day.  Big car companies know that the wave of the future is going to be towards environmental friendliness when it comes to a person’s vehicle.  That’s why  manufacturing of many alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles is a huge part of their business plans these days.
Even though it is a good idea to buy an alternative fuel car these days, you will have to pay more to do so.  Alternative fuel vehicles run anywhere from $3,500 to $12,000 more than a regular gasoline car.  That is why many states offer great incentives for people who own alternative fuel vehicles.

For example, California, Texas, and Florida have allowed alternative fuel cars exemptions when it comes to commuting.  These places have commuting or “high occupancy” lanes. They allow cars with a certain number of people in them to use them.  If you have an alternative fuel car, you can be in this lane even if you are by yourself.
The Federal Government offers a tax break to people who have purchased an alternative fuel cars in 2006.  For some people, that is an amazing tax advantage and well worth the investment in buying an alternative fuel car.