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Biodiesel
FACT SHEET |
 A substitute for diesel fuel,
made from vegetable oil (including used cooking oil). Used in
boats, buses, and large trucks. Made in Hawaii. |
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Electricity
(for "electric vehicles")
 EV FACT
SHEET
|
An electric vehicle has an electric motor
instead of an internal combustion engine. Electricity for the
motor comes from batteries or fuel cells. Electricity to re-charge
the batteries can be produced from many sources - see ELECTRICITY
FACT SHEET. Since there’s no combustion happening on
the vehicle, electric vehicles are "zero emission,"
quiet, and cool. Made in Hawaii. |
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Ethanol
(an alcohol fuel)
FACT SHEET |
 An alcohol fuel made from
corn or sugarcane. It could also be made from waste paper, sawdust,
or other low-cost materials. Ethanol is a liquid fuel that can
be used in an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. Could
be made in Hawaii. |
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Fuel Cells
(not commercially available)
FACT SHEET |
Fuel cell vehicles are the best of both
worlds, in theory – they’re electric vehicles that
could be re-fueled with alternative fuels (ethanol, methanol,
or hydrogen, for example). This is attractive since re-fueling
is faster than re-charging. Still in the "research and development"
stage. |
Hydrogen
(not commercially available) |
Hydrogen is being considered for use in
fuel cells and has been used in internal combustion engines.
The main obstacle is fuel distribution and storage, both on and
off the vehicle. Vehicles are still in the "research and
development" stage. Hydrogen fuel could be made in Hawaii. |
Methanol
 (an alcohol
fuel) |
An alcohol fuel made from natural gas. It
could also be made from landfill gas, sugarcane bagasse, or wood
chips. Methanol is a liquid fuel that can be used in an internal
combustion engine or a fuel cell. Could be made in Hawaii. FACT SHEET |
Natural gas
(also known as "compressed natural
gas" or "CNG") |
Not commercially available in Hawaii. Although
synthetic natural gas is made from refinery byproducts on Oahu,
it has a different composition from the natural gas used on the
Mainland. Also, Hawaii’s synthetic natural gas is only available
in a limited area of Oahu (neighbor islands and areas of Oahu
use propane instead). |
Propane
(also known as "LPG," "liquefied
petroleum gas") |
 Propane, which is made from
refinery by- products on Oahu, is more practical than natural
gas for Hawaii and is available statewide. Propane vehicles
have been in use in Hawaii for many years. Fuel
made in Hawaii from imported petroleum.
FACT SHEET |
Solar Cars
(this is a type of electric vehicle) |
Although fun for racing, the size of solar
panels required to power your family’s car would be too
big to be practical (the car wouldn’t fit in its lane or
parking space). But a car doesn’t have to carry solar cells
with it – an electric car can plug into solar panels installed
on a carport or garage roof, and charge up while it’s parked
in the shade! |
