This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles: Should the Federal Government Bridge the Economic Gap?
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
The future of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) is uncertain because consumer demand for them has not been established. AFVs are environmentally friendly and have the potential to provide short, mid, and long term solutions to the United States' problem of dependence on foreign sources of oil. At this time, however, there is little economic incentive to encourage consumers to purchase AFVs.
The federal government has taken the lead in establishing a market for AFVs by mandating their purchase across federal and state vehicle fleets. In addition, the government has offered incentives to automobile manufacturers to encourage the production of AFVs. The government has also established consumer awareness programs which are educating the public about the benefits of AFVs.
It is basic government research, however, which is the key to maximizing the long term potential of AFVs. Currently, AFVs can provide protection from potential short term oil spikes and alternatives to increasing oil prices. Eventually, they will be able to alleviate a major portion of this country's dependence on foreign sources of oil. If the government continues AFV research and development programs, a market for AFVs will develop, and their maximum potential benefits could be realized.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
McFadden, C., "Alternative Fuel Vehicles: Should the Federal Government Bridge the Economic Gap?," SAE Technical Paper 981176, 1998, https://doi.org/10.4271/981176.Also In
References
- Annual Energy Outlook 1997 July 31 1997
- Association of International Automobile Manufacturers New Motor Vehicle Emissions Standards Summary June 3 1997
- BMW hydrogen cars Automotive Engineering 98 5 May 1990
- Behrens, Carl E. Bamberger Robert Row-berg Richard E. Department of Energy Programs: History, Status, Options CRS: Report for Congress 97-54 ENR Washington, DC January 3 1997
- Bradley, Robert L. Jr. What Now for US Energy Policy? A Free-Market Perspective. Policy Analysis 145 July 14 1997
- Chrysler Methanol Cars http://www.chrysler.com/community/environ/methanol.html July 19 1997
- Clean Air Act Amendments Digest http://Thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d101:SN01630:@@@D June 17 1997
- Clinton, William J. Executive Order: Federal Alternative Fueled Vehicle Leadership The White House, Office of the Press Secretary June 17 1997
- Compressed and Liquefied Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) June 17 1997
- Copulos, Milton R. Securing America's energy Future: A Primer on the National Energy Strategy Heritage Back-grounder #856 July 14 1997
- Currently Available Alternative Fuel Vehicles July 17 1997
- Davis, Stacy C. McFarlin David N. Transportation Energy Data Book Edition 16 Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, TN July 1996
- DOE R&D Web Database
- Electric Vehicles (EVs) July 17 1997
- Energy Policy Act Digest June 17 1997
- Ethanol-Powered Vehicles June 17 1997
- Frost, Greg Chrysler to Make 180,000 Flex-Fuel Minivans http://www.infoseek.com/Content?arn=a1032…=alterna-tive+fuels&sv=N4&col=NX&svx=lhsnx June 17 1997
- Ford Motor Company Research. Alternative Fuel Vehicles http://www.ford.com/corporate-info/environment/research/altfuel.html
- Future of Alternative Fuels Hearing before the Sucommit-tee on energy and Power of the Committee on Commerce. US House of Representatives: 104th Congress US Gov-ernment Printing Office Washington, DC 1995
- A General Introduction to Alternative Fuel Vehicles June 17 1997
- General Motors. EV1 July 19 1997
- Gushee, David Alternative Transportation Fuels and Clean Gasoline: Background and Regulatory Issues Congressional Research Service: Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Library of Congress Washington, DC 1996
- Kaminski, Stephen Tadeusz Driven to Compliance: An Alternative Fueled Future WISE: AIChE August 1996
- Kukkonen, Carl A. Mordecai Shelef “Hydrogen as an Alternative Automotive Fuel” Automotive Engineering October 1994
- Lewis, David I. “Better Mileage” Mechanical Engineering November 1990 74
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas/Propane-Powered Vehicles July 17 1997
- Maxwell, Timothy T. Jones Jesse C. Alternative Fuels Emissions, Economics, and Performance Warrendale, PA Society of Automotive Engineers 1995
- Methanol-Powered Vehicles July 17 1997
- New Fuels & Vehicles Report 18 17 June 20 1997
- Reed, Donald “Compressed-Natural-Gas Vehicles” Auto-motive Engineering February 1995 269 270
- Resident Population Projections, by Age and Sex: 1996 to 2050 July 25 1997
- Rowberg, Richard E. The Department of Energy FY1998 Research and Development Budget and Issues Congressional Research Service. Report for Congress 97-233 SPR. Library of Congress Washington, DC April 23 1997
- Rowberg, Richard E. Department of Energy: FY1997 Research and Development Activities and Issues Con-gressional Research Service: Report for Congress 96-385 SPR. Library of Congress Washington, DC May 1 1996
- Sissine, Fred Energy Efficiency: Key to Sustainable Energy Use? Congressional Research Service: Issue Brief IB97027. Library of Congress Washington, DC May 30 1997
- Sissine, Fred World Solar Summit: Launching the World Renewable Energy Program Congressional Research Service: Report for Congress 96-711 SPR. Library of Congress Washington, DC August 1 1996
- US Refueling Site Counts by State and Fuel Type June 17 1997
- Valenti, Michael “Alternative Fuels: Paving the Way to Energy Independence” Mechanical Engineering. Decem-ber 1991 42 46