Considering Alternatives to Hybrids
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The hybrid isn't the only alternative to the conventional gasoline engine. There are some, such as diesel, that have been around for a while and readily available, while others, such as hydrogen fuel cells, won't be available for several years.
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Diesel
Diesel engines, which use a fuel derived from petroleum, have been in existence for as nearly as long as the modern automobile (since the 1930s). They are more fuel efficient than their gasoline counterparts. Diesel vehicles are extremely popular in Europe (roughly half of the cars sold are diesel), where the cost of gas is much more expensive than in the United States. They have not really caught on in the U.S., in large part because Americans have a bad memory of older diesels from the early 80's, which developed a reputation for being noisy, smokey, slow and foul-smelling.
But today's diesels are much cleaner and get about 35 percent better fuel efficiency and provide 25 percent more torque, than gasoline engines of the same size. The drawbacks over their conventional counterparts are a slightly increased price, due to more complex engines, and a higher rate of pollution. The emission problem is why diesels aren't currently sold in California and some Northeastern states, which have stricter standards.
Ethanol
Automakers are beginning to offer more vehicles that run on ethanol or an ethanol/gasoline mixture. Ethanol is derived from feedstock - in the U.S. it's primarily from corn. General Motors has been big on promoting E85 flex-fuel vehicles. For many of their SUVs and trucks, a driver has the option of filling up on E85 ethanol gasoline, which is a cleaner burning fuel composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Toyota has recently announced that it plans on producing ethanol/gasoline vehicles as well. The big downsnside of ethanol fuel is its lack of availability. It's mainly available in the Midwest and California, where ethanol is refined.
Plug-in Hybrids
Almost all of the hybrids on the road don't need to be plugged in. They function entirely off the internal combination of the electric motor and gasoline engine. However, a technology exists that allows you to plug in the hybrid. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) has the advantage of using a bigger battery and allows one to go longer distances without relying on the gasoline engine. Manufacturers, such as Toyota, are looking into this technology. It's currently available as an after-market add on.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
A more far off option is using hydrogen fuel cells in place of the internal combustion engine. The fuel cell works by converting hydrogen and oxygen into water, and through this it produces electricity. Unlike gasoline engines, the fuel cell would produce no emissions. Engineers are still tinkering with this technology to make usable for the automobile. For instance, Honda has built a concept vehicle, called the FCX, that it hopes to produce in 3-4 years. Meanwhile, the manufacturer has started to lease versions of the vehicle to a limited number of government employees, as well as to a family in California.
One major drawback of this technology is the need to build a new hydrogen fuel infrastructure so people can fill up their vehicles. California has committed to have a "hydrogen highway" in place by 2010, but it remains to be seen if other states will follow.
External Links
Revolve: Towards Zero Emissions Annual Brighton to London alt-fuel rally and exhibition - focusing on H2 and fuel cell technology - with driving opportunities for the public, press and celebrities.
