Written primarily for fleet management personnel with purchasing, maintenance, or operations responsibilities, Alternative Fuels: Emissions, Economics, and Performance provides essential information for those who are considering adding alternatively-fueled vehicles to their fleets. Readers will gain a solid understanding of the fundamentals of alternative fuels and the factors that need to be considered when evaluating their use. No prior knowledge of alternative fuels is necessary. Basic information on the various alternative fuels and objective data on the costs of converting, fueling, and operating alternatively-fueled vehicles is covered in this book. Fuel cost, performance, reliability, and availability are addressed. The book also discusses the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act and the 1992 Comprehensive National Energy Policy Act. A summary of Texas' state law, considered to be representative of state legislation on alternative fuels and a glossary of key terms, are also included. Eight chapters cover: Review of Engine Technology; Characteristics of Alternative Fuels; Conversion of Spark Ignition Engines; Conversion of Compression Ignition Engines; Refueling Facilities; Legislation and Policies; and Cost Considerations. The book is also an ideal introduction to the topic for legislators, administrators, educators, and anyone interested in learning more about alternate fuels.

For a century, almost all light-duty vehicles (LDVs) have been powered by internal combustion engines operating on petroleum fuels. Energy security concerns about petroleum imports and the effect of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on global climate are driving interest in alternatives. Transitions to Alternative Vehicles and Fuels assesses the potential for reducing petroleum consumption and GHG emissions by 80 percent across the U.S. LDV fleet by 2050, relative to 2005. This report examines the current capability and estimated future performance and costs for each vehicle type and non-petroleum-based fuel technology as options that could significantly contribute to these goals. By analyzing scenarios that combine various fuel and vehicle pathways, the report also identifies barriers to implementation of these technologies and suggests policies to achieve the desired reductions. Several scenarios are promising, but strong, and effective policies such as research and development, subsidies, energy taxes, or regulations will be necessary to overcome barriers, such as cost and consumer choice.

This book is a comprehensive and objective guide to understanding hydrogen as a transportation fuel. The effects that pursuing different vehicle technology development paths will have on the economy, the environment, public safety and human health are presented with implications for policy makers, industrial stakeholders and researchers alike. Using hydrogen as a fuel offers a possible solution to satisfying global mobility needs, including sustainability of supply and the potential reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This book focuses on research issues that are at the intersection of hydrogen and transportation, since the study of vehicles and energy-carriers is inseparable. It concentrates on light duty vehicles (cars and light trucks), set in the context of other competing technologies, the larger energy sector and the overall economy. The book is invaluable for researchers and policy makers in transportation policy, energy economics, systems dynamics, vehicle powertrain modeling and simulation, environmental science and environmental engineering.