All businesses want to find ways for their fleet to be more efficient, and today there are more ways than ever! In the past, fleet vehicles relied solely on diesel or gasoline to get from point A to point B. Now, there are a number of alternative energy vehicles available to get your workers where they need to be, for less! Learn more about each type of vehicle to see if one might be a good fit for your fleet!
Types of Alternative Energy Vehicles
Hybrid
Hybrids use a combination of electric batteries and traditional fuel to power the vehicle. Because the vehicle alternates between using energy generated from braking and gasoline or diesel, a hybrid generally has higher-than-average fuel efficiency, which will save your company some money at the pump. Hybrids are ideal for driving in stop-and-go conditions and areas with slower speed limits. There aren’t currently any cargo van hybrids on the market, however both the GM G-Series and the Ford E-Series can be fitted with an aftermarket hybrid system.
Electric
Electric vehicles run solely on energy from rechargeable batteries. The good news is that electric vehicles don’t use any gasoline, which is beneficial for the environment; however users still have to pay for the electricity to charge the batteries. Today’s electric vehicles can run for approximately 100-200 miles without needing to be recharged, which is lower than the average 300 miles that a gasoline-powered vehicle can go, but is great for businesses with smaller service areas. Electric vans are still in their infancy, but Nissan has a head start with its e-NV200.
Natural Gas
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is one of the fastest growing alternative energy vehicle fuels available. The fuel itself is in high supply, so it is less expensive and volatile than diesel or gasoline. Additionally, CNG-powered vehicles emit approximately 20-30% less greenhouse gasses than traditional fuels. On the downside, natural gas vehicles (NGVs) can cost upwards of $25-75,000 more than traditional vehicles and CNG fueling stations are not nearly as prominent across the country as gas or diesel stations.
Propane
Similar to CNG, propane is in high supply in the United States and emits fewer pollutants than gasoline. It can be tough to find fueling stations, but propane-powered vehicles have a longer driving range than other fuels such as natural gas, ethanol, and methanol. Almost all gasoline engines can be converted to run on propane and studies show that propane-powered vehicles have lower operating and maintenance costs than traditional vehicles.
Resources
Learn more about alternative energy vehicles and how you can integrate them into your own fleet.
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