Alternative Fuel Vehicle Types
Electric Vehicles:
Benefits of Driving an Electric Vehicle
- Quiet, Clean Driving Experience
Electric Vehicles (EVs) offer a quiet, fume-free, smooth driving experience. Since the
motor does not operate when the vehicle is at a stop, an EV has no idle noises. When an EV
is under power, the only sounds are the soft hum of the motor and the tires whirring over
the roadway.
First-time EV drivers are constantly surprised by the quality of the EV driving
experience. EVs provide fast acceleration by delivering power instantly to the wheels. By
providing high torque at low speeds, they give a feel of smooth and quick responsiveness.
Well-designed EVs travel at speeds equivalent to conventional vehicles and offer all the
same safety and high-performance features.
EVs are today's only zero-emission vehicles. They have no tailpipes and emit no
pollutants. Instead of gasoline from oil refineries, EVs use fuel from electric power
stations. Although power plants using fossil fuels do generate emissions, power plant
emissions generated for EV use are typically much lower than emissions from the comparable
use of gasoline-powered cars. For power plants using renewable energy sources like wind,
solar and hydropower, no air pollution at all is created.
America imports more than half the oil it uses, and that percentage is rising. EVs help
lessen the country's dependence on imported petroleum and reduce the national security
concerns associated with that growing dependency.
The per-mile fuel cost of operating an EV can be less than one-third that of a
gasoline-powered car. The exact amount of savings depends on the local electricity rate,
which varies by utility. In addition, EV owners eliminate many familiar maintenance costs
- tune-ups, oil changes or muffler replacements are unnecessary.
One of the conveniences to EV drivers is that refueling can be done easily and safely
overnight at home, at work, or at public locations where electric charging units have been
installed.
New Hampshire
Electric Vehicle Fleet Information
New Hampshire's electric vehicle fleet was obtained through the Alternative Fuel
Vehicle Project (AFVP), a cooperative venture of the Governor's Office of Energy and
Community Services (ECS), the Department of Environmental Services (DES), and the
Department of Transportation (DOT). The fleet consists of four Solectria Force sedans and
nine Chevrolet S-10 pickup trucks. These vehicles are ideal for general duty short trip
use such as travel to meetings, in town errands, mail runs and other light deliveries.
The AFVP mission is to promote a state fleet of alternative fuel vehicles.
Funding for the project is provided from a federal transportation (Congestion Mitigation
and Air Quality) grant awarded to ECS through the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. The S-10
pickups were provided at no cost by General Motors, through the settlement of
environmental litigation with the federal government.
Specification |
Solectria Force |
Chevrolet S-10 Pick-Up |
Battery System |
Lead acid (gel type) |
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) |
Energy Efficiency (vs. gasoline powered) |
12 to 2 times as efficient |
13 to 12 times as efficient |
Energy Cost |
$.90/charge, or 2-3 4/mi. |
$4.00/charge, or 6 4/mi. |
Range per charge, miles |
25-30 miles city driving 40 + at steady 45 mph |
50+ miles city driving 80+ at steady 45 mph |
Battery Life |
3 + years |
6 + years |
Top Speed |
70 mph |
75 mph |
Heat |
Kerosene fired, hot water core |
Diesel fired, hot water core |
Charger |
3 kW, 220 V onboard system |
6.6 kW inductive system |
Cost |
$27,000 (Base price) |
$45,000 |
Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Vehicles:
Currently, there are 163 propane vehicles in use in New Hampshire. This is by far
the most common AFV type in the Granite State. A simple reason for this might be the
availability of refueling sites. Most propane vehicles are conversions, which mean that
they started off as gasoline powered vehicles but were later converted to propane.
Some of the benefits of this fuel include:
- Lower CO, hydrocarbon, and particulate emissions
- Wide availability of refueling sites across New England
- Propane is domestically produced
- Generally, propane is cheaper than gasoline
- Similar refueling times with conventional gasoline
- Reduced maintenance
- Spark plugs last longer
- Oil changes needed less frequently
- Less internal carbon buildup
Natural Gas (Compressed [CNG] or Liquefied [LNG])
Vehicles:
There are 29 Compressed natural gas vehicles in New Hampshire. Of the models that are
currently available, the Honda Civic GX is the most popular among the state agencies
15 CNG vehicles because it is the only dedicated CNG subcompact sedan available on the
market and is manufactured in Ohio. The US EPA has rated the Honda Civic GX as the
cleanest internal combustion vehicle on the road today.
Some of the benefits of this fuel include:
- 90% of the nations natural gas is domestically produced
- 60 to 90% reduction in CO emissions over gasoline
- 30 to 50% reduction in NOx emissions over gasoline (NOx is a contributor to Urban Smog)
- Fastest growing AFV type (Between 1996 and 1997, more than 19,000 CNGs were added to the
road)
- Reduced maintenance
- Generally, CNG costs about 25% less than gasoline
Biodiesel Vehicles:
Biodiesel is an alternative form of diesel fuel made from vegetable oils or animal
fats such as soybeans or rapeseed. Biodiesel is generally delivered
blended with diesel fuel at an 80%(diesel) 20% (biodiesel) blend. Vehicles can also be
operated on 100% biodiesel. Currently, the state does not have any biodiesel vehicles, but
has a large potential for them since no conversion is needed from conventional diesel
engines. ECS is currently working with stakeholders to develop a pilot project with school
busses and/or public works heavy-duty vehicles to run on biodiesel.
Some of the benefits of this fuel include:
- It is all natural, renewable, and dissolves in water faster than sugar.
- It is 11% oxygen by weight and contains no sulfur.
- Biodiesel lowers toxic emissions and particulate matter
- Biodiesel requires no engine modification and does not affect engine performance.
- Aids U.S. farmers
- Requires no new refueling infrastructure
Flexible Fuel Vehicles:
New Hampshire's State Fleet currently has 39 Flexible Fueled Ford models in its fleet.
Flex Fuel vehicles can run either on conventional gasoline or a mixture of 85% ethanol and
15% gasoline. Ethanol is a liquid fuel that can be made from a variety of renewable
resources. Ethanol is most commonly produced by fermenting sugars derived from the starch
in corn, sugar cane, or wheat. Technology is being adapted to produce ethanol from
forestry wastes, municipal waste, and vegetation.
Some of the benefits include:
� Great flexibility for long travel
� Lower emissions for CO, hydrocarbons, particulates, and
NOx over conventional gasoline
� Fuel is produced in the U.S.
For more information, contact:
Derek Greenauer, Energy Program Manager
Governor's Office of Energy & Community Services
phone: 603-271-0477
fax: 603-271-2615
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