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Thomas Edison drove an electric car. A 1903 Electric Studebaker, to be exact. I know, right? Who'da thunk it? Nowadays, we think of alternative energy for cars as... well, alternative. But the fact is, Rudolf Diesel originally invented his diesel engine to run off of peanut oil, and that was only as a replacement for the standard steam engines of the time, which (obviously) ran off of water!
So, you see, alternative energy cars; cars that run on biodiesel, hydrogen cars, even electric cars are not a new concept. Far from it.
Yes, green cars may very well be the wave of the future (let's hope so, anyway), but in reality, they are hardly more than a blast from the past.

IF GAS PRICES LEAVE YOU IN SHOCK,
Electric Cars Can Plug You In To Relief

Thomas Edison in his electric Studebaker, 1900's
Look at Thomas Edison over there in his trusty electric car, just smirkin' away without a care in the world. Is he laughing at us? One can't help but wonder if he would. Maybe the predicament we've managed to create here is far too tragic to warrant laughter from anyone. Although, people driving electric vehicles past gas stations these days must have a pretty hard time holding it back.
As green cars go, these ones are among the best. While the disadvantages of electric cars do create a modicum of inconvenience for their owners, such as travel radius restrictions (usually around 85-100 miles), they also provide numerous, invaluable benefits, not the least of which are close to zero emissions, and not a drop of gasoline required to run.
While technological improvements in electric cars continue to advance, these green vehicles are becoming more and more relevant in our fight against fossil fuel addiction.

• Find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of Electric Cars, on muchapedia.

DO YOU WANT FRIES WITH THAT?
No, But I'll Take The Grease!

Move over John Travolta, there's a new generation of greasers in town. Not to be confused with Biodiesel, which combines these oils with regular diesel fuel, used french fry grease WILL power a car! It's true. People can (and do) run their diesel vehicles on nothing more than the filtered left over grease from fast food joints and chinese restaurants. This type of fuel is known as "WVO", or Waste Vegetable Oil. It works just as well as diesel fuel, it gets the same mileage, it reduces harmful emissions and dependence on foreign oil, and it helps to solve the problem of what to do with the 3 billion gallons of used cooking oil produced by restaurants and hotels every year. Wow, WVO, I'm impressed. Do you have a sister?
Funny you should ask, because Waste Vegetable Oil does have a sibling. Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO)! This works in exactly the same way as its WVO counterpart, but it hasn't been used, so it does not require any filtering process. Technically, someone could go into the grocery store, purchase an armload of cooking oil, and dump it straight into their tank, although that wouldn't be very cost effective. Of course, considering the rising gas prices these days...
Yeah, but don't the hoses get clogged up in your car? Don't certain states have regulations to consider? Don't you have to convert your engine to make it work? Don't your exhaust fumes smell like eggrolls? Don't worry. We answer all of the relevant questions about these green cars on our veggie oil conversion page. If you happen to drive a diesel vehicle, or are considering purchasing a used one, we highly recommend researching these green cars further.

• Learn more about the logistics, costs, advantags, and disadvantages of WVO, SVO, and Vegetable Oil Conversion green cars, on muchapedia.

WHAT THE H IS THIS FUEL CELL YOU SPEAK OF?

Hydrogen cars exist in a variety of forms. You've got your hydrogen fuel cells, your hydrogen internal combustion engines, and your hydrogen/gasoline hybrids. Several major automotive companies have an assortment of vehicle models that incorporate some of these hydrogen technologies already in various stages of development from concept, to testing, to production and use.
The upside of these green cars includes zero emissions and a lessening of our dependence on foreign oil. Unfortunately, as with any technology, there are downsides as well, not the least of which is the time it will take to create a fully functional hydrogen infrastructure in America. Due to this, and other technicalities, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced in May of 2009 that the government would be cutting off funds for the development of hydrogen vehicles, stating that the focus will be on projects that can bear fruit more quickly. Nevertheless, privately funded hydrogen technology continues to progress in the United States, while other countries, such as Japan, persist in their investment in and implementation of hydrogen technologies. As a result, these green cars appear to have a solid future both in this country and beyond.

• Learn more about the different types of hydrogen technologies, and the advantages and disadvantages of Hydrogen Cars, on muchapedia.

SO YOU SAY YOU WANT TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS...
Then Biodiesel and Hybrid Cars are For You!

How many times have you said, "If it's good enough for Willie Nelson, then it's good enough for me"? Okay, so maybe you've never said that (or maybe you have - we're not judging), but that's neither here nor there. The point is, Willie loves his biodiesel, folks. He loves it so much, in fact, that Willie Nelson biodiesel, known as BioWillie (true story), can be found at several biodiesel stations across the country. Bio Willie is B20 biofuel, which means that it is a combination of 20% biodiesel and 80% standard petrodiesel. Biodiesel is diesel fuel that is made from vegetable oil, animal fats, and/or alcohol. The "B" factor system is used to define the amount of biodiesel in any given fuel mix. Biofuels range in ratio from B10 (10% biodiesel) all the way up to B100 (pure biodiesel). The most common mixtures, and what you'll normally get if you pull in to a biodiesel station to fuel up, are usually in the 10% (B10) - 20% (B20) range. If you drive a diesel vehicle, you can safely fill up with biofuel blends up to B20 without altering your engine in any way. The only difference will be that your emissions are lower. Biodiesel expansion is largest in the midwest, where corn is abundant. Biodiesel stations are plentiful there, but they can be found just about anywhere in the United States. It is also possible to learn how to make biodiesel at home. While these green cars don't exactly end our fossil fuel addiction, they do put a dent in it. They also cut down on emissions, and are easily incorporated into our current infrastructure as no modifications are necessary to existing diesel vehicles in order to use it.

Last but not least on the green cars menu are hybrid cars. These green cars use two or more distinct power sources to move. The most common hybrid cars these days are hybrid electrics, which combine a standard, gasoline powered, internal combustion engine with a battery powered electric motor. Generally, when you see a hybrid car on the road, this is the type of system it is running on. Hybrid cars lower emissions by using less foreign oil on account of their incredible gas mileage. They are also able to seamlessly operate within current transportation infrastructures. When you add in the tax credits and other incentives, these green cars make a lot of sense. They may not solve the problem altogether, but they are definitely a giant leap in the right direction.

• Learn more about the different types of biofuels, and the advantages and disadvantages of Biodiesel green cars, on muchapedia.


• Find out more about the specifications, technology, advantages, and disadvantages of Hybrid Cars, on muchapedia.