Biodiesel

Biodiesel is derived from agricultural products. Conventional diesel is an oil derivative.

It's not all plain sailing for biodiesel.
Check this out (Channel 4 news link): Biodiesel in Wales

Fuel Cell

Electric vehicles can obtain power from several different sources. Large battery packs that require recharging are the most familar. Another source of electric power is the fuel cell. Fuel cells rely on a chemical reaction to produce electric current.

Hybrid

Hybrid vehicles use a combination of conventional and electric power to achieve higher efficiency and lower polution. Current hybrid vehicles include
Toyota Prius, Hydrostatic drive.
Go here for information (Toyota link):Prius Information
Honda
Ford Go here for information (Ford link):Escape Information
else?

Electric

Utility vehicles, golf carts, cars - EV1, conversions. Solar electric vehicles - Sunraycer.
Toyota pickup
Tesla Motors

Ethanol

Ethanol

Alternative Vehicle Discussion

The majority of today's vehicles are driven by internal combustion engines. These engines generally burn oil-based fuel such as gasoline (petrol) or diesel. There are substantial sub-groups in Brazil and Scandinavia that use gasohol, a mixture of gasoline and alcohol. The significance of the alcohol is that it is derived from agricultural products as opposed to crude oil.
Three factors have combined to make governments, corporations and individuals look for alternatives to oil-based fuels. The first factor is increased competition for oil resources. Growth in vehicle sales in second and third world countries is changing the dynamics of the last few decades. The second factor is dwindling oil supplies. There are strong, proven reserves available for many years to come. However, the time taken to make any major change is measured in decades rather than years. Governments and energy companies are having to make plans now for changes that lie many years in the future. The third factor is pollution. Emissions from internal combustion engines are being connected scientifically with health and environmental costs at an increasing rate. The effects are being compounded by global growth in the population of vehicles.

These factors have influenced costs and government policy. Many regions are now providing a mixture of penalties and incentives to encourage moves to alternative vehicle systems. These changes are encouraged by a mixture of understanding cause-and-effect and fear of future problems.

The costs of making changes in the mainstream are truly staggering ranging in the many trillions of dollars. A mis-step in choice could be disasterous for the world economy and the health and welfare of billion of people. It seems important that we explore many different approaches to vehicles. We may also find that a world system using several different vehicle schemes may help avoid future problems such as those we suffer from our dependence on oil. Old/new electric, steam, ? ,?

To be continued .....