| Ever since the military released the Humvee | | | | percent biodiesel) and gets 23 miles per gallon. |
| design to the open market, it has been a favorite | | | | That means that this Hummer produces less |
| vehicle for many people. General Motors produces | | | | carbon dioxide and smog than any petroleum |
| this amored truck turned luxury vehicle, and have | | | | economy vehicle, while promoting the use of the |
| recently announce a version made to run on | | | | environmentally friendly alternative fuels. |
| biodiesel. | | | | Biodiesel Isn't the Only Game in Town |
| Gas-Guzzling Vehicles | | | | But there is another alternative to even a |
| The Hummer has long been a favorite target of | | | | biodiesel alternative fuel Hummer: one that runs |
| environmentalists and conservationists worldwide | | | | on the environmentalist's favorite fuel: hydrogen. |
| because of it's famously atrocious gas mileage. | | | | Arnold Schwarzenegger owns this Hummer, which |
| The Hummer uses more fuel than 5 economy | | | | is not widely available yet. Hydrogen produces |
| vehicles, and that means 5 times as much smog | | | | absolutely no emissions other than water vapor, |
| and carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. It only | | | | making it by far the cleanest alternative fuel |
| makes sense to try and minimize the amount of | | | | hummer available. But the availability of hydrogen |
| harmful byproducts this monster vehicle produces, | | | | is still quite limited, and for the moment it is far |
| and biodiesel may be a big step towards a | | | | more expensive than biodiesel. It requires a |
| solution. | | | | complete engine reworking to run on pure |
| Biodiesel and Pollution | | | | hydrogen, and special fuel storage considerations. |
| Biodiesel is a natural alternative to | | | | Biodiesel, on the other hand, is easily distributed |
| petroleum-based diesel and can be used in most | | | | by the same channels as petroleum products, and |
| diesel engines without any modifications needed. It | | | | does not require very much, if any, engine |
| is completely biodegradable and is non-toxic. | | | | reworking. |
| However, some engines do require optimization to | | | | Environmentally Friendly and Renewable |
| be able to run on 100% biodiesel. Most unmodified | | | | No matter what car you drive, you should look |
| diesel engines will run on a mixture of petroleum | | | | into a biodiesel or other alternative fuel |
| and biodiesel with no problems. Bio diesel, when | | | | replacement. Biodiesel is a renewable resource |
| used alone, produces 65% less smog-causing | | | | (unlike petroleum), and is far cleaner and less |
| emissions than regular diesel, and around 60% less | | | | hazardous than any petroleum product. These |
| carbon dioxide emissions. All this while maintaining | | | | vehicles may be more expensive now, but |
| the same fuel efficiency as petroleum-based | | | | someday you will be chuckling as you pay half |
| diesel. | | | | what the pure petroleum users are paying. As |
| Pioneering the Alternative-Fuel Hummer | | | | petroleum prices rise, pressure to make the |
| The man who made it happen is Tom Holm and | | | | switch to alternative, cheaper fuel is as well. It is |
| the non-profit Eco-Trek Foundation. While most | | | | only a matter of time before alternative fuel |
| environmental groups bemoan the Hummer, this | | | | vehicles become the norm, rather than the |
| group decided to do something about it. Tim's | | | | exception. |
| alternative fuel Hummer runs on B100 (that's 100 | | | | |