The above links are to a list of new, factory-built AFVs that are fueled by those fuels. Simply click to see the current vehicles you can purchase that run on those fuels. Some are flex fuel, some are bi-fuel and some are dedicated (see more on these definitions here).
There are also opportunities to purchase used AFVs. One big example is the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which held auctions at over 50 different locations nationwide last year, selling over 35,000 total vehicles and about 1,400 AFVs. They expect to sell about 3,200 AFVs this year through auctions. More info on GSA auctions can be found here: http://www.autoauctions.gsa.gov/afv. In addition, several sources of information exist on the resale of AFVs. One such source is the Alternative Fuel Data Center (AFDC), which has a page that addresses "The Used Alternative Fuel Vehicle Resale Market," and where an article can be found on "Successes and Challenges in the Resale of AFVs".
One other note on GSA auctions. It appears that there is one local reseller for GSA vehicles, and that is Chattanooga Auto Auction. Their Web site tells when GSA auctions are (next one is Tuesday, October 22nd), and provides information on the GSA vehicles expected to be auctioned off that day, as well as directions to the facility. Their auctions are held every Tuesday, with GSA vehicle auctions only occuring approximately 2-3 times per year. Check the Web site first; if you have other questions, contact Larry Hammill at 423-499-0015.
In addition to the new and used factory-built vehicles, conversion companies exist that can convert either new or used vehicles from running on gasoline or diesel to an alternative fuel. The following link is to an AFDC page that provides the names and contact information for companies that convert vehicles (organized by fuel type): https://afdc.energy.gov/afv/conversion.shtml.
That page also contains a conversion Question & Answer section.
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Biodiesel - light-duty diesel vehicles sold in the U.S.
These are vehicles that it is possible to run biodiesel in, since any diesel vehicle can run biodiesel. You'll most often see blends like B20 in use in such vehicles, but in certain areas municipalities and individuals alike are running higher blends in their diesel vehicles, including B100 (example - link to article about City of Berkeley converting entire fleet to run B100!).
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Electricity
- B.I.G. Man
- Global Electric Motorcars, LLC [GEM] (four models: e2 - 2 seater, e4 - 4 seater, eS - 2 seater with short bed, eL - 2 seater with long bed)
- Lido luxury neighborhood vehicles (three models: Coupe, Sedan and Runabout)
- Solectria CitiVan (delivery vehicle)
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Electric-Gasoline Hybrids
2004 and 2005 models:
• Toyota Prius
• Honda Insight
• Honda Civic Hybrid
2005 models (coming in 2004 or in early 2005):
• Ford Escape SUV
• Toyota Highlander SUV
• Chevy Silverado Pickup
• Lexus RX 400 Hybrid SUV
• Honda Accord Sedan
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Ethanol (E85; all are flex fuel vehicles)
- Ford/Mercury:
Select 2002-2005 4.0L Explorers
Select 2004-2005 4.0L Explorer Sport Trac
Select 1999-2003 3.0L Ranger trucks
Select 2000-2005 3.0L Taurus sedans and wagons
Select 1995-1999 3.0L Taurus sedans
- DaimlerChrysler:
Select 2004-2005 4.7L Dodge Ram 1500 trucks
Select 2003-2005 2.7L Chrysler Sebring Sedans
Select 2003-2005 2.7L Dodge Stratus Sedans
Select 2003-2005 3.3L Caravan Cargo vans
All 1998-2003 3.3L Caravan minivans
All 1998-2003 3.3L Voyager minivans
All 1998-2003 3.3L Town & Country minivans
- General Motors:
All 2002-2005 5.3L Suburbans, Tahoes, Yukons, Yukon XLs
Select 2002-2005 5.3L Sierra and Silverado trucks (code 5E5 for ordering)
All 2000-2002 2.2L Chevy S-10 trucks (after 12/99)
All 2000-2002 2.2L Sonoma trucks (after 12/99)
- Isuzu:
All 2000-2002 Isuzu 2.2L Hombre trucks (after 12/99)
- Mazda:
Select 1999-2002 Mazda 3.0L B3000 trucks
- Mercedes:
Select 2003-05 3.2L Mercedes C320 Series
Select 2005 2.6L Mercedes C240 Series
- Mercury:
Select 2002-2005 4.0L Mountaineer
Selected 2001, 2003-2005 3.0L Sables
The list above is based on information available as of Fall 2004. Please ask your dealer or consult your manual before using any new fuel. All FFVs are approved for E85 use and carry the same warranty as gasoline-only models.
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Hydrogen (Fuel cell vehicles)
No fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are publicly available yet, however, some automakers are making quicker progress toward such availability than others. For example, Toyota is building about 20 FCVs that will be tested in Japan and the U.S. later this year. Even with this jump-start, Toyota thinks it will be 2010 before full-scale commercialization of FCVs will begin.
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Natural Gas
- Chevrolet: Cavalier Bi-fuel Sedan, Silverado Bi-fuel Pickup, Express Bi-fuel Passenger and Cargo Van, Express Bi-fuel Cutaway Van
- GMC: Sierra Bi-fuel Pickup, Savana Bi-fuel Passenger and Cargo Van, Savana Bi-fuel Cutaway Van
- Honda Civic GX
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Propane
- Ford F-150 [Bi-Fuel] (Regular, SuperCab, 4x2 and 4x4 models with 7,700 lbs payload group)
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Types of AFVs
Bi-fuel: The vehicle can operate an either of two fuels, and has a switch that must be flipped to choose which fuel you want to run on. The vehicle has two tanks, one to hold each different type of fuel. The most common examples of bi-fuel vehicles are those that can run on either 1) gasoline or propane or 2) gasoline and natural gas.
Flex fuel: The vehicle can operate on either gasoline or E85 (ethanol), and both fuels are feed into the same tank on the vehicle (the vehicle has only one tank). You can fill-up with either fuel at any time -- the fuels can be mixed in any proportion to run the vehicle. These types of AFVs have fuel oxygen content-sensing equipment on-board that alters engine timing based on the sensed oxygen content of the fuel coming into the engine. The sensing equipment is mostly electronic and works constantly (when the vehicle is on).
Dedicated: The vehicle can operate on only one fuel, and has only one tank. There are dedicated propane, natural gas, electric, hydrogen and gasoline vehicles (the car you drive right now is a dedicated fuel vehicle, it just runs on the wrong fuel -- gasoline). ;-)
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