How do I buy an alternative vehicle?
Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities is your one-stop organization for information on how, why, and where to buy an alternative vehicle. We can tell you about fuel tax credits, vehicle tax credits, and where you can get alternative fuel cheaply. (even if you take a long trip!)

Contact us @ coordinator@pgh-cleancities.org.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Hybrid Electric vehicles are perhaps the most popular form of alternative vehicles in the U.S.  HEV’s combine a conventional combustion engine with an electric motor to achieve high fuel economy.  HEV’s reduce air pollution by using less gasoline and help to reduce the consumption of foreign oil products.  Hybrid Electric Vehicles include the Toyota Prius, Porsche Cayenne SUV, Chevy Malibu, and Honda Insight.

Battery-Powered Electric Vehicles
Battery-powered electric vehicles, or BPEVs, run only off of rechargeable batteries.  They can be charged by plugging in to an electrical supply, and require no fuel such as gasoline.  BPEV’s are referred to as “zero-emissions vehicles”.  They do not produce any typical pollution or emissions associated with transportation.

Ethanol Vehicles
Ethanol is grain alcohol, and is produced from feedstock corn.  Ethanol is often mixed with gasoline to run flexible-fuel vehicles.  The blend consists of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, and is therefore referred to as E85.  Ethanol can contribute to energy independence as it is produced in the U.S., and produces fewer pollution emissions than standard gasoline.  Ethanol vehicles include any vehicle marked as ‘flexfuel’ — Lincoln Town Car, Dodge Cargo Minivan, Mercedes-Benz C240 Luxury Series, and the Ford Explorer.

Biodiesel Vehicles
Biodiesel fuel is produced from natural and agricultural products such as cooking oil or soybeans.  Vehicles that run on petroleum petro-diesel are capable of running on biodiesel with little to no modifications, and can therefore significantly reduce emissions.  Biodiesel can also be produced in the United States, reducing our dependence on foreign energy. Most Biodiesel vehicles operate on a 5% to 20% biodiesel to diesel percentage. (B5 to B20)

Fuel Cell Vehicles
Fuel Cell Vehicles use fuel cells to generate electricity and power an electric motor.  Fuel Cells produce electricity through the separation of the proton and electron in a hydrogen atom, their only byproduct is water.  Fuel Cell Vehicles are not yet available for purchase, however Honda has begun market testing, by leasing these vehicles to select consumers.  Fuel cells do not pollute the environment, nor do they require foreign energy or fossil fuels.

Natural Gas Vehicles
Natural Gas is one of the cleanest burning alternative fuels available.  Natural Gas Vehicles NGVs can operate solely on natural gas, or can run on either natural gas or gasoline.  Natural Gas vehicles include the Honda Civic GX, (the cleanest internal combustion engine ever commercially produced), and the Silverado and Sierra manufactured by GM.

Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles
Hydrogen, the most abundant natural element in our universe is being investigated to fuel and run vehicles.  Hydrogen-powered vehicles are charged by a standard internal combustion engine, but are fueled by Hydrogen gas.  Hydrogen is abundant, and could therefore relieve dependence on foreign energy supply as well as be environmentally friendly.

Propane Vehicles
Propane vehicles run off of propane gas as opposed to gasoline.  Propane gas is an inexpensive readily available alternative to traditional gasoline.  Propane vehicles perform comparably to gasoline run engines, and reduce air-pollution by emitting substantially lower levels of pollution.

For more information on Alternative Fuels, Vehicles, and how to reduce harmful pollutants, please contact Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities at coordinator@pgh-cleancities.org.