- One of the alternate fuel sources is electricity that is stored in batteries. The advantages of cars that run completely on this alternative fuel is the lack of tailpipe emissions. The vehicles can also be recharged at home. The disadvantages include the limited distance they can go without being recharged, or only about 100 miles. In addition, it is not possible to know how long the battery packs will last.
- Biodiesel fuel is a clean-burning fuel made from plant oils, such as soybeans or animal fat. The pros for using this fuel are the fact that it is a renewable resource and biodegradable and it can work in nearly every diesel engine. The cons include that it is not easy to obtain and it is more costly than regular diesel fuel.
- A third alternative fuel that can be used for running vehicles is compressed natural gas, or CNG. It is similar to the natural gas used to heat homes or to cook food in gas stoves, but compressed into high-pressure fuel cylinders. The advantages include that it is made mostly from methane and not from oil; it is a cleaner burning fuel than gasoline; the vehicle can be refueled from a home natural gas line; and current automobiles can be converted to work with CNG, however, it would be quite costly. On the other hand, few companies manufacture automobiles that can run on CNG; cars that do use CNG, such as the Honda Civic GX, are approximately $3.500 more expensive than a gas-only Civic; it can take hours to refuel the car at home and there are very few refueling stations; and compressed natural oil has a fuel mileage that is not even as good as gasoline.
- Liquified natural gas, or LNG, turns natural gas into a liquid by freezing it to minus 260 degrees F. People support the use of this alternative fuel because it is made from natural gas, and similar to CNG, it burns cleaner than gasoline. Proponents also say that propane refueling stations are present in many areas, although not as widespread as gas station and that today's cars could be altered to run on LNG, albeit at a high cost. Those who oppose using this alternative report that very few of these cars are being manufactured, LNG cannot be refueled at home like CNG, and the fuel mileage is even worse than gas.
- There are no alternative fuels that do not have both advantages and disadvantages at this time. Although it would be helpful to the environment if more cars were driven with these fuels, the costs are higher for those consumers who are trying to be more "green." The consumers also have to go out of their way to find places that will refuel their cars.
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