Alternative-Fuel Vehicle

An Alternative-Fuel Vehicle (AFV) is defined by the Energy Policy Act and encompasses various types of vehicles designed to operate on alternative fuels rather than traditional gasoline or diesel. Here the of the types of AFVs as defined:

1. Dedicated AFV: This type of vehicle is designed to operate exclusively on one specific alternative fuel. It does not have the capability to run on gasoline or diesel. Examples include vehicles that solely use compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, or electricity.
2. Flexible-Fueled AFV: Also known as flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), these vehicles are designed to operate on more than one fuel type. Typically, flex-fuel vehicles can run on a blend of ethanol and gasoline (such as E85, which is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). They can also operate on gasoline alone.
3. Dual-Fueled AFV: These vehicles are designed to operate on either an alternative fuel or a traditional fuel (gasoline or diesel). They provide flexibility to switch between fuels depending on availability and other factors. For example, a dual-fueled vehicle might operate on either natural gas or gasoline.

The key characteristics of AFVs include their ability to use alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, methane blends, electricity, hydrogen, ethanol blends, biodiesel, or other emerging fuels. This definition encompasses vehicles designed for various purposes, from personal cars and trucks to commercial vehicles and fleet vehicles.

AFVs are part of efforts to reduce dependence on petroleum, lower emissions of pollutants, and promote cleaner energy sources in transportation. They play a significant role in advancing sustainable transportation options and reducing environmental impacts associated with conventional fossil fuels.