Thanks to Sharon Silke-Carty at USA TODAY, here's a good primer on the current world of alternative fuels.
With gasoline prices high, politicians and auto executives are talking up the benefits of alternative-fuel vehicles — from cars that run mostly on corn-based ethanol to gas-electric hybrids, from diesel-powered vehicles to cars that burn natural gas.
But sorting out what's in showrooms and what the fuel savings are can be confusing. And industry watchers say many consumers are sitting on the sidelines because they aren't sure gasoline prices will stay high. "It's almost impossible to tell where (gas prices) are going," says David Cole of the Center for Automotive Research.
As of Monday, regular gasoline was selling for an average $2.859 a gallon, down 5½ cents from a week ago and up about 75 cents from a year ago, motorist club AAA says.
If you're convinced gas prices will stay high, and you're willing to buy a new car now, here's a guide to alternative-fuel vehicles.
Tell someone you're thinking about buying a gas-electric hybrid, and there's a chance the person will whip out a calculator to prove what a dumb idea that is.
Hybrids save fuel by using an electric motor at times rather than the gasoline engine. But the cost of the extra motor, an additional battery and other needed technology have made hybrids about $3,000 more expensive than their traditional gas-only counterparts. That cuts into the savings on gas.
However, the equation may soon start changing in hybrid's favor. For one thing, higher gas prices mean bigger savings with a hybrid.
Toyota said last month that it is planning to dramatically increase the efficiency of its popular Prius hybrid; it had already said it wants to cut the hybrid premium to about $1,500.
Other automakers also are responding to price sensitivity in the hybrid market. General Motors announced last month that it will price the new Saturn Vue hybrid SUV at $23,000, about $1,500 more than a comparable gasoline-powered Vue.
Vue is a "mild" hybrid, which means it uses its electric motor to assist the gasoline-powered engine, but the electric motor doesn't run on its own.
Vue "makes true hybrid fuel savings available to more people than ever before," says Saturn general manager Jill Lajdziak.
Buyers also may get a tax credit for purchasing a hybrid. It varies, based on fuel economy, from under $1,000 to more than $3,000 and is limited to a certain number of vehicles.
Diesels
Shedding their reputation as belchy, smoky messes, diesel engines are growing in popularity among American consumers. Since 2000, registration of diesel-powered passenger vehicles has gone up 80%, according to R.L. Polk.
"Americans are increasingly looking to diesel as a readily available solution to help alleviate their pain at the pump," says Allen Schaeffer of the Diesel Technology Forum.
Diesel fuel can cost more than gasoline — about 9 cents a gallon right now, says AAA — but diesel gets 20% to 40% better fuel efficiency, meaning you go farther on a gallon.
Right now, there are only a handful of diesel cars available to U.S. consumers. Volkswagen sells its Beetle, Golf and Jetta in diesel versions, and Mercedes sells the E320 sedan in diesel. Chevy, Dodge, Ford and GMC sell diesel pickups.
There could be more in the future. Strict emissions laws have kept many automakers from jumping on board. But DaimlerChrysler promises its BlueTec engine, when used with low-sulphur diesel available in the USA this fall, will make its diesel engines clean enough to meet new emissions standards in all 50 states.
Chrysler Group said Monday that it will quit selling the diesel version of Jeep Liberty's small SUV in the USA because its engine doesn't meet the new standards. However, Chrysler will sell a diesel version of the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee full-size SUV with a Mercedes engine.
Ford is considering a diesel hybrid engine, and BMW is considering bringing a diesel version of its 330 sedan to the USA.
The downside? Even though the technology is better, diesels are still louder than traditional gas engines.
Flexible-fuel
The hype surrounding ethanol is making Detroit automakers and corn farmers happy.
There are already about 5 million flexible-fuel vehicles — FFV — on the road that can run on E85, a blend of 85% corn-based ethanol and 15% gasoline, or on regular gasoline. All are from domestic automakers, who are primed to introduce more of them.
There are two big downsides to ethanol: One, it's less efficient than gasoline, so vehicles get fewer miles to the gallon and drivers need to refuel more often. That leads to the second big downside: There are only about 600 refueling stations in the USA, most in the Midwest.
Ethanol producer VeraSun Energy has a guide to help determine if your vehicle is an FFV at www.ve85.com/FlexibleFuelVehicles/FFVIdentification/. Lists of stations that carry E85 are available from the Energy Department, http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/, or the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, www.e85fuel.com/database/search.php.
Natural gas
California drivers can buy the Honda Civic GX, which runs on natural gas. This fall, New York residents will be able to buy Civic GX too.
To make refueling convenient, owners also can lease a natural gas home-refueling appliance, dubbed "Phill." It is mounted on a garage wall and allows the GX to refuel overnight from a homeowner's natural gas supply line.
Natural gas is about 50% cheaper than regular gasoline when purchased at home. (At a refueling station, the savings are about 25%.) Natural gas burns more cleanly than regular gas. And buyers are eligible for a $4,000 tax break.
The Civic GX starts at $24,440, about $2,000 more than the Civic hybrid and $10,000 more than the base Civic coupe. "Phill" can be leased for $36 to $79 a month.
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