Due to the recent hurricanes and war in Iraq, it is no surprise that gas prices are on the rise as well as the demand for oil. Our oil dependency on foreign countries will have to be limited as fluctuating oil prices and instability in the Middle East are causing a demand for energy independence for the United States. However there are many alternatives to this new pricey energy source, ranging from natural gas to Propane.

Natural gas is the most utilized alternative fuel, fueling about 130,000 light and heavy duty natural gas vehicles in the United States and about five million worldwide.

Besides less harmful nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide emissions, natural gas is domestically produced with a great majority of its imports coming from Canada.

According to the Energy Efficiency Ratings (EER) website, “Dedicated NGVs (natural gas vehicles) do not have to carry two fuels such as other alternatives like bio-fuel, thereby increasing cargo capacity and reducing weight. The future holds great potential for natural gas because it can potentially be used in fuel cell vehicles to make hydrogen.”

Some vehicles that use natural gas include the Chevy Silverado, the Sierra from General Motors, and the Civic GX from Honda.

Another popular alternative has been biodiesel fuel that currently fuels school buses and farm equipment.

Biodiesel is also domestically produced from natural products like soybeans and mustard seeds thus allowing the domestic production of this fuel without dependency on other sources. However it has been proven that in older vehicles, “high percentages of biodiesal can damage fuel hoses and pump seals made from certain elastomers,” said the EER website.

Lastly propane, also called liquefied petroleum gas, is known to have been used in the 1920s and its performance is similar to that of gasoline powered vehicles. About 200,000 propane vehicles are in the United States that range from pickup trucks to delivery trucks. The fuel is available in publicly accessible fueling stations, and its benefits include lower prices, domestic resource and production of 60% fewer ozone- forming emissions.

Other alternative fuels include electricity, ethanol, and hydrogen. While all these gases are being tested for continuous use, they all have a common benefit. All alternatives emit significantly lower amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases which deplete the ozone layer and lower greenhouse effects.

While gas is still the fuel of choice in the United States, innovations are slowly changing this pattern.