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 major car companies have jumped right on to the alternative fuel bandwagon by manufacturing a variety of vehicles designed especially to run on alternative fuel.  They are called, of course, 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.
As of 2006, 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 and 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 their manufacturing of so many alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles is a huge part of their business plans these days.
Now, you should know that even though it is a good idea to buy an alternative fuel vehicle these days, you will have to pay more money to do so.  Alternative fuel vehicles run anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 more than a regular gasoline car.  That’s why many states offer great incentives for those people who own alternative fuel vehicles.

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