Biodiesel is a cleaner burning, domestic, renewable fuel processed from vegetable oils such as soybean or canola oil, from animal fats, or from used restaurant grease. Biodiesel contains no petroleum but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. The fuel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Biodiesel is available at several area filling station in B5 blend (Biodiesel 5%, petroleum diesel 95%) and B10 blend (Biodiesel 10%, petroleum diesel 90%). More information on biodiesel
The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles have the cleanest internal combustion engines available today, meeting California super-ultra-low-emission vehicle (SULEV) standards. Compared to the average gasoline vehicle on the road today, natural gas vehicles:
- Emit 60-90% less smog producing pollutants
- Produce 30-40% less greenhouse gas emissions
- Cost less to fuel (about $1.50 per gasoline gallon equivalent)
More information on compressed natural gas in transportation
The hybrid-electric vehicles operate on a combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Depending on driving conditions and as determined by the vehicle's computer, the car will run on the best combination of the engine and the motor or on either of the systems independently. During normal driving, the vehicle runs mainly on the gasoline engine. However the electric motor, using electric power generated by the gasoline engine, makes up for any deficiency of gasoline power. When the vehicle is stopped, the gasoline engine automatically turns off and then automatically turns when the vehicle proceeds.
Hybrid-electric vehicles operate and refuel like ordinary gasoline or diesel vehicles. Some hybrid-electric vehicles’ batteries recharge via the internal combustion engine, and through a process called regenerative braking. While other hybrid electric vehicles need to be plugged in. Learn more about hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles
Visit the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition webpage for information on alternative fuels, advanced technology vehicles and other petroleum reduction strategies.