Ponder this: We want to protect ourselves and our children, so we buy big SUVs with big gasoline engines that increase our risk of cancer and lung disease.

The fact is that we Earthlings are doing a fantastic job of crapping up our air, and unless we want our children and grandchildren to enjoy significantly reduced life spans, we'd better do something about it.

So with a conscience divided between ecological responsibility and guilt, I made my foray into the world of alternatively powered cars. I spent a week each with several different types: electric, hybrid, natural gas, low-sulfer gas, zero-evap, and even diesel.

Quick picks: Most journalists prefer the Toyota Prius gasoline-electric hybrid because it's the most convenient. Not me. Until they get rid of the gasoline part (a vegetable-oil based diesel fuel would be a nice substitute), my pick is a natural gas vehicle such as the Honda Civic GX.

Nissan Altra EV: Electric vehicle

How it works: Onboard batteries supply power to an electric motor; batteries are re-charged from utility current.

• Emissions rating : ZEV
• Convenience: Low
• Relies on non-renewable fuel: No
• Eligible for rebates/incentives: Yes

Good stuff

1. No pollution from tailpipe (there is no tailpipe!)
2. Silent
3. Typical range (70 to 110 miles between charges) is more than adequate for most commutes
4. Public chargers available in some communities

Bad stuff

1. Spotty availability; very difficult to buy/lease, especially for individuals
2. Limited passenger and/or cargo capacity
3. Public chargers are sometimes broken or blocked by other cars
4. Automakers are reluctant to build EVs, claiming they cannot be built profitably
5. Actual pollution levels depend on how electricity to charge the batteries is generated

Once you get over the novelty, the EV feels like a normal car. Range isn't that much of an issue - I had no charger at my home, so I relied on the one at the office and had no problems. The weekend required more careful planning. With a home charger this wouldn't be as much of an issue, but one would still need a second car for long trips. I could see myself owning an EV, but not as my only car.

Nissan Sentra CA

Low sulfer/zero evaporative emissions

How it works: Modified fuel and exhaust system takes advantage of low-sulfer gasoline, while sealed fuel system eliminates evaporative emissions

• Emissions rating: SULEV
• Convenience: High
• Relies on non-renewable fuel: Yes
• Eligible for rebates/incentives: No

Good stuff

1. Cleanest gasoline-fueled car on the market - 90% cleaner than standard California emissions
2. Looks, runs and drives like a regular Sentra
3. Convenient: Just gas it (in California) and go; no special intervention required
4. Able to run on regular (high-sulfer) gasoline
5. Costs the same as a standard Sentra with comparable equipment
6. Zero-evaporative emissions system means the Sentra CA pollutes less while running than some cars do standing still!

Bad stuff

1. Nissan Sentra CA is only available in California
2. Low-sulfer gasoline is only available in California (all California gas is low sulfer)
3. Low-sulfer gasoline faces intense opposition from oil companies

I can't believe this car hasn't received more press - it makes environmentally-friendly driving a no-brainer! No high price, no fancy drivetrain, and no special fueling requirements. Except for the fact that it relies on non-renewable petroleum, this car almost seems to good to be true. If other states (or the Fed) followed California's lead and mandated low-sulfer fuel, we could have this brilliant little car everywhere - but I expect the oil companies will fight this one tooth and nail, and the current administration won't do much to oppose them. That said, automakers could still take a huge bite out of automotive pollution by adapting the Sentra's sealed fuel system. Evaporative emissions - a fancy word for unburned gasoline that seeps through microscopic pores in parts of a car's fuel system - are a bigger source of pollution than you might think.

Honda Civic GX

Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV)

How it works: Standard gasoline engine is modified to run on compressed natural gas (CNG)

• Emissions rating: SULEV
• Convenience: Moderate
• Relies on non-renewable fuel: No
• Eligible for rebates/incentives: Yes

Good stuff

1. Cleanest internal-combustion engine on the market - over 90% cleaner than standard California emissions
2. Runs and drives like a regular gasoline car
3. Simpler emissions equipment than a gasoline car
4. Refueling is easy, inexpensive, and clean
5. NGV proponents argue that CNG is safer than gasoline
6. CNG can be artificially produced

Bad stuff

1. Fueling stations not nearly as common as gas stations, especially in areas without a strong natural gas infrastructure
2. Bulky fuel tanks intrude on trunk space and offer limited range
3. Costs $4,000 more than comparably equipped gas-powered Civic - though tax breaks and/or utility incentives can offset the cost

I never took NGVs seriously, but now I am a total convert. A little education about the CNG fuel system, and CNG itself, eased my concerns about safety. Remember, if a gas tank ruptures, the fumes sit near the ground; CNG is lighter than air, so it just gets the hell outta there. The Honda folks showed me how to refuel the car; the first time I tried it on my own was a comedy of errors, but it was easy once I got the hang of it. It's fast, my hands didn't stink like they do after using a gasoline pump, and best of all, it cost six bucks to fill the tank!

Toyota Prius

Low-emissions hybrid

How it works: Gas engine and electric motor provide power, either in combination or individually

• Emissions rating: SULEV
• Convenience: High
• Relies on non-renewable fuel: Yes
• Eligible for rebates/incentives: No

Good stuff

1. Very convenient, with passenger and cargo room comparable to any compact sedan
2. Prius' computer automatically shuts off gas engine and runs on electricity in slow stop-and-go traffic
3. Runs on regular pump gasoline
4. Significantly higher fuel mileage than a typical gasoline-powered compact sedan, especially in town
5. Best fuel economy/lowest emissions in slow, start-and-stop traffic
6. Regenerative braking system recharges batteries while reducing brake wear

Bad stuff

1. Relies on non-renewable petroleum
2. Complex electronic powertrain
3. Costs more than gas-powered compact sedans

This is the first time I've ever looked forward to a traffic jam. For most cars, traffic snarls mean lots of wasted fuel and polluted air. But the Prius runs on battery power at low speeds, so as traffic slows, fuel economy goes way, way up, and pollution drops to nothing. Unfortunately, since the Prius is not a true alternative-fuel vehicle, you can't drive alone in the carpool lane as you can in an NGV or an EV. Now, if only they would build a Prius that runs on alternative fuel.

Honda Insight

High-mileage hybrid

How it works: Small gasoline engine powers the car; battery-powered electric motor assists during acceleration

• Emissions rating: ULEV (5-speed), SULEV (automatic)
• Convenience: Moderate
• Relies on non-renewable fuel: Yes
• Eligible for rebates/incentices: No

Good stuff

1. Outstanding fuel economy - careful driving will yield 60 to 70 miles per gallon
2. Engine automatically shuts off when car is sitting still, to save gas; restarts instantly when the car is put into gear (stick shift) or brake is released (automatic)
3. Advanced aluminum framework saves weight while preserving crash integrity
4. Onboard batteries are charged by the engine - never needs to be plugged into a charger
5. VTEC system ensures adequate acceleration even if batteries are depleted
6. Regenerative braking system recharges the batteries while reducing brake wear

Bad stuff

1. Two seats and limited luggage capacity
2. Complex powertrain
3. Auto-shutoff feature does not work well with automatic
4. Expensive

Getting 60 to 70 MPG out of the Insight does require some adjustments to your driving style, but I figure that anyone willing to buy an Insight would be willing to drive it accordingly. All you need to do is watch the upshift/downshift lights and the fuel-economy gauge. I prefer the stick-shift, it seems to reap the most benefits of the hybrid system, especially when driving in town. Now if Honda would just swap out the tiny gas engine for an a tiny diesel, I bet this puppy would have no problems topping 100 MPG.

Diesel vehicles

Various makes and models (but not nearly enough)

How it works: Internal-combustion engine uses the heat of compressed air, rather than a spark, to ignite a variety of fuels

• Emissions rating: Varies
• Convenience: Moderate
• Relies on non-renewable fuel: No
• Eligible for incentives and rebates: Fleets only

Good stuff

1. Better fuel economy, more pulling power and longer engine life than gasoline engines
2. Mechanically simpler than gasoline engines
3. Able to run on biodiesel, which can be made from vegetable oil or used restaurant-fryer oil, without engine modifications
4. Low emissions when run on biodiesel or other organic fuels

Bad stuff

1. Diesel cars are not widely available in the US and Canada
2. Emits carcinogenic particulate emissions (soot) when run on petroleum-based diesel fuel
3. Biodiesel is not subsidized like petroleum is, so it is more expensive

Dr. Rudolph Diesel designed his engine to run on vegetable oil, and if we'd only listened to him our skies would be much clearer. Fortunately, vegetable-based fuels are gaining popularity; the most promising is called biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oil (new or used), methanol and lye, and can run in a standard diesel engine without modification. Fleets that run BD20 (a mix of 20% biodiesel and 80% dyno diesel) are eligible for EPA credits, and an engine running on 100% biodiesel is not only super-clean, but the exhaust smells like french fries. There are other alternatives; Ford is working on a diesel powered Focus - and I swear I am not making this up - that uses bovine urea (a.k.a. cow pee) to clean the exhaust.

Home, James
© 2002, Robert C. Bowden