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Alternate Fuel: Ethanol and methanol: Biodiesel

Most of the motor vehicles in California use gasoline or diesel fuel. Combustion of these fuels produces significant quantities of carbon mono oxide, hydrocarbons (HC) and particulates in the internal combustion (IC) engine, which are then released in air.

Many components of HC emissions are toxic and carcinogenic in nature. These gases form ground level ozone and contribute to green house effect.

Alternate fuels are the vehicle fuels, which are not made from petroleum. There are many types of the non-petroleum fuels on which the vehicles can run. The United States Department of Energy officially recognizes the following list of alternative fuels:
Alcohols - ethanol and methanol.
Compressed natural gas (CNG) - natural gas under high pressure.
Electricity - stored in batteries.
Hydrogen - a very special type of gas.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) - natural gas that is very, very cold.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (also called propane) - hydrocarbon gases under low pressure.
Liquids made from coal - gasoline and diesel fuel that doesn't come from petroleum.
Biodiesel - a lot like diesel fuel, but made from plant oil or animal fat.

The Alternate fuels not only produce far less toxic gases they also reduce dependence of California and other states on petroleum fuels. They also provide a choice to the customers to choose the fuel.

Natural gas is one of the best Alternative fuels for US. It comes from the friendly North American countries and is abundantly available. The supply of natural gas is relatively stable and reliable. Natural gas is a non-renewable fossil fuel, just like petroleum and coal, and it too will some day be used up if people continue to use a lot of it.

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