Alternative Fuels and Vehicles

image: a Honda natural gas vehicle demonstrates a fueling station

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) requires state and federal government fleets to purchase renewable fuel vehicles for three-quarters of their new light-duty vehicle purchases. Additionally, alternative fuel provider fleets covered by EPAct are required to select renewable fuel vehicles for 90 percent of their new vehicle purchases. Although local government and private fleets are not covered by this rule, the U.S. Department of Energy has the authority to include them at a later date. Today, 92 state and alternative fuel provider fleets use E85 flex-fuel vehicles to help them meet their EPAct requirements. Source: Consumer's Guide to Renewable Energy in Arkansas.

AFVs are well-suited for fleets in certain "niche" markets. Taxi fleets, for example, are high-mileage vehicles that drive fairly centralized routes and may benefit from using a less expensive alternative fuel such as natural gas or propane. Local delivery fleets with low mileage, and high-use vehicles that frequently idle in traffic or must often start and stop, may be good candidates for electric vehicles. Medium and heavy-duty AFV applications include transit buses, airport shuttles, delivery trucks and vans, school buses, refuse haulers, and street sweepers.

Alternative fuels as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) include: