The Great Fuel Debate

With the increased news coverage about rising gas prices, there is more talk about alternative fuels sources for automobiles. As a consumer, it is important to learn about, understand the options available to you, and make an informed decision.

For this activity, you will imagine that you are about to buy a car. Before you purchase a car, you must research the alternative fuel sources and choose the fuel you feel will best fit your needs. The only catch is that you must choose a fuel OTHER THAN gasoline!

There are numerous types of alternative fuels out there to choose from. Links to the five most common are provided for you. Check out these links to become an educated consumer. As you read from each site, list at least five facts about each fuel type.

Electric Power: http://home.tampabay.rr.com/rageer/evs/

Fuel Cells: http://www.fuelcells.org/basics/benefits.html

Hybrid: http://www.care2.com/channels/ecoinfo/hybrid

Natural Gas: http://www.ngv.org/ngv/ngvorg01.nsf/bytitle/BenefitsofNGVs.htm (This page has several links for review).

Biodiesel: http://biodieselamerica.org/biosite/index.php?id=22,23,0,0,1,0

Once you are done reviewing the different alternative fuel options, decide which one best fits your needs and write a brief (one to two paragraph) essay supporting your decision. Make sure to use the facts you learned in your essay.