Alternative fuel vehicles: where we're at
The list of concerns that consumers are bringing to the car lot these days is ever-growing. Issues from climate change, to fuel prices, to Peak Oil are driving the decisions we make about what kind of vehicles we want to drive. So, how is this effecting the US car market? And more importantly, what does the future of the American automobile look like?
The Auto Alliance released its numbers today regarding 2007's alternative fuel vehicle sales, and the figures are encouraging, but short of mind-blowing. Last year, 1.8 million alternative fuel vehicles were sold in the US -- that includes everything from hybrids to flex-fuel vehicles. Hybrid sales rose to over 347,000. Alternative fuel vehicles are the future, but which one will dominate?
Right now, there are 70 alternative fuel rides on the market and more on the way -- compare that with 2001, where there were only 12. By the same token, the number of hybrid models for sale in 2008 ticks in at 24, up from a measly 2 in 2001. So, by the numbers, the quest for a less oil-dependent and more carbon-conscious future is definitely advancing, but there's a long way to go yet. One of the big hurdles to the adoption of alternative fuels is infrastructure. For example, out of the 170,000 gas stations in the US, only about 1500 carry E85.
So, where's the hydrogen fuel cell at? According to Auto Alliance spokesperson Charley Territo, most manufacturers have a test fleet on the road, but the there's little coming in the way of a consumer model in the next few model years. That has partly to do with their $250,000 price tag, among other concerns.
When I asked Charley about the future of alternative fuels, I got the impression that nobody is expecting a "silver bullet" solution. For the forseeable future, automakers are expecting a wide range of competing fuels, without a clear leader like we've had for the past century. Think diversity. Drivers that make long trips might want a diesel hybrid, while drivers with short commutes might drive an plug-in electric car.
The Auto Alliance released its numbers today regarding 2007's alternative fuel vehicle sales, and the figures are encouraging, but short of mind-blowing. Last year, 1.8 million alternative fuel vehicles were sold in the US -- that includes everything from hybrids to flex-fuel vehicles. Hybrid sales rose to over 347,000. Alternative fuel vehicles are the future, but which one will dominate?
Right now, there are 70 alternative fuel rides on the market and more on the way -- compare that with 2001, where there were only 12. By the same token, the number of hybrid models for sale in 2008 ticks in at 24, up from a measly 2 in 2001. So, by the numbers, the quest for a less oil-dependent and more carbon-conscious future is definitely advancing, but there's a long way to go yet. One of the big hurdles to the adoption of alternative fuels is infrastructure. For example, out of the 170,000 gas stations in the US, only about 1500 carry E85.
So, where's the hydrogen fuel cell at? According to Auto Alliance spokesperson Charley Territo, most manufacturers have a test fleet on the road, but the there's little coming in the way of a consumer model in the next few model years. That has partly to do with their $250,000 price tag, among other concerns.
When I asked Charley about the future of alternative fuels, I got the impression that nobody is expecting a "silver bullet" solution. For the forseeable future, automakers are expecting a wide range of competing fuels, without a clear leader like we've had for the past century. Think diversity. Drivers that make long trips might want a diesel hybrid, while drivers with short commutes might drive an plug-in electric car.
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