Organizations
Online Resources
Fuel Calculator Tools
Biofuels
Ethanol
Biodiesel
Clean Diesel
Propane & Natural Gas
Hybrids
Hydrogen & Fuel Cells

Organizations

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT): Alternative Fuels Program
TxDOT has become a national leader in fleet management for alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). The shift to AFVs began in the early 1990s when Texas lawmakers passed clean air legislation requiring state agencies to purchase vehicles capable of using alternative fuel. TxDOT's fleet of alternative fuel vehicles is the largest in the state.

Texas General Land Office: Alternative Fuels Program
Offers information on alternative fuel vehicle use and procurement, natural gas refueling stations, Clean Cities, the IH 35 "Clean Corridor" and also serves as an information and referral source on natural gas as a vehicular fuel.

Texas Railroad Commission: Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division
Researches and educates the public about propane and other environmentally beneficial fuels that can help reduce air pollution.

Vehicle Technologies (FCVT) Program
This U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) program develops more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly highway transportation technologies that will provide Americans with greater freedom of mobility and energy security, while lowering costs and reducing impacts on the environment.

Advanced Vehicles & Fuels Research Center
This DOE program works in partnership with public and private organizations to research, develop, and demonstrate innovative vehicle and fuel technologies that reduce the nation's dependence on imported oil, and to improve energy security and air quality.

Argonne National Laboratory
A DOE research facility that develops technologies that will help make advanced vehicles a reality. Argonne's transportation research team brings together scientists and engineers from many disciplines to find cost-effective solutions to the problems of transporting people and goods from one place to another - issues like vehicle emissions and energy supply.

Baylor University: Renewable Aviation Fuels Development Center
The Center research's, develops and commercializes renewable fuels such as ethanol, ETBE and biodiesel for use in aviation and provides assistance to pilots interested in conversion of their aircraft to run on renewable fuels.

National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC)
NAFTC, headquartered at West Virginia University, provides the training infrastructure for implementing the widespread use of alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles. This web site contains a news information portal featuring commercial information about bioproducts, biofuels, and bioenergy.

SmartWay Transport Partnership
The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a voluntary collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.

CALSTART
CALSTART is dedicated to expanding the global advanced transportation industry and its related markets. CALSTART assists organizations involved in planning, developing, testing, and implementing advanced transportation and mobility programs, and advises fleet managers and other organizations interested in clean fuel vehicles.

Blue Skyways Collaborative
Blueskys was created to encourage voluntary air emissions reduction in North America's heartland. It is a voluntary, public-private partnership currently comprising 10 states (including Texas), 6 federal agencies, two EPA regions (6 and 7), 10 major companies, the Central Sates Air Resources Agencies, NGOs, local government representatives, and representatives of Canada and Mexico.

Clean Fuels Development Coalition
The Coalition supports the development of new technologies and the increased production of fuels that reduce air pollution, stimulate the economy and lessen our dependence on imported oil.

NCTCOG Clean Vehicles Program
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Clean Vehicle Program supports policies, practices and technologies that help improve air quality in the North Texas region through the use of clean fuel and clean vehicle technology.

Online Resources

2008 & 2009 Fuel Economy Guide

DOE Web Sites Highlight Petroleum Reduction Options
These web sites provide a one-stop resource for valuable information about alternative fuels and vehicles, hybrid vehicles, idle reduction, and other strategies.

Alternative Fuels Station Locator
This DOE web site provides information and maps to all the AFV fueling stations across the country. It also helps you identify point-to-point routes based on fueling availability.

Alternative Fuels Data Center
This web site has more than 3,000 documents in its database, an interactive fuel station mapping system and current listings of available alternative fuel vehicles.

Alternative Fuel Route Mapper
This DOE mapper can map a route between a start and end point of your choice showing alternative fuel stations along the entire route and displays driving directions for the route.

All-Electric Vehicle Incentives for Austin Energy Electric Customers
This is a Central Texas Clean Cities and Austin Energy website. Applicants may receive the following incentives: $500 for all-electric cars, $250 for all-electric scooters, $150 for all-electric motorcycles and select scooters, and $100 for all-electric bicycles. Funding is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Current incentive valid for the life of program (April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2010) or until program funds are expended, whichever occurs first. Incentive application must be submitted within sixty (60) days of vehicle purchase.

DOE Database of Fleet Experiences
This DOE online searchable database of fleet experiences can be used as a resource and offers an inside look at how fleets use alternative fuel vehicles, deal with infrastructure issues, obtain funding, and more. You may select a vehicle category to get all fleet experience stories associated with that category. Or, you may select a fuel/technology type to view all fleet experience stories associated with that fuel/technology type.

EPA Fuel Economy Program
This Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) web site offers comprehensive, up-to-date information on fuel economy. EPA is responsible for providing fuel economy (gas mileage) data that is posted on the window stickers of new vehicles. EPA's fuel economy estimates are designed to allow consumers to comparison shop.

Green Vehicle Guide
An EPA web site that provides browsers with a guide to locate the cleanest running and most fuel efficient vehicle that meets their needs. Cars and trucks are sorted by air pollution score. Information includes vehicle specs, sales area, air pollution score, fuel economy and greenhouse gas score.

Clean Fleet Guide
The U.S. Department Energy's Clean Fleet Guide features tools help fleets make "green" vehicle and fuel decisions.

Yahoo Green Car Center
In collaboration with Environmental Defense, Web search engine Yahoo! launched the Green Car Center, a new section that rates vehicles based on fuel economy, toxic emissions, and pollution generated in production. Green ratings are provided for a wide range of vehicles and accompanied by a wealth of related information.

Transportation Energy Data Book
A DOE publication.

Alternative Transportation Fuels and Vehicles
A 2006 Congressional Research Service report, Alternative Transportation Fuels and Vehicles: Energy, Environment, and Development Issues.

Green Car Congress
Technologies, news, issues and links for sustainable mobility.

Trucks Deliver a Cleaner Tomorrow
Under the banner of "Trucks Deliver a Cleaner Tomorrow," truckers aim to reduce their fuel consumption by 86 billion gallons while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 900 million tons over the next decade. See the program Web site, and the EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership.

Fuel Efficiency
This HowStuffWorks web page explains how a car's speed affects fuel efficiency, and includes a table of gas mileage versus speed for various sizes of cars.

The Low-Down on High-Octane Gasoline
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published this fact sheet in cooperation with Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Fuel Calculator Tools

Energy Equivalency of Fuels
Computes the amount of each fuel necessary to provide the same energy as 1 kg of hydrogen, 1 million cubic feet natural gas, 1 barrel of crude oil, or 1 gallon of other fuels, based on lower heating values.

Lower and Higher Heating Values of Fuels
Calculates fuel parameters for hydrogen, natural gas, gasoline, diesel, propane, oil, coal, and wood.

Unit Conversion Calculator
Contains conversion factors to convert units of weight, volume, distance, etc.

Financial Calculator
Calculates simple financial and/or economic parameters, such as present value of a future amount, future value of a present amount, present value of an annuity, levelized cost, etc,. based on user-supplied assumptions about discount rates and number of years.

SmartWay Technology Package Savings Calculator
Visit EPA's new SmartWay Technology Package Savings Calculator and see how your fleet can improve both the environment and the bottom line. Truck technologies that save fuel or use fuel more efficiently can pay for themselves through fuel savings. They also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution. The SmartWay calculator is designed to help truck owners compare the costs and estimate the fuel savings associated with various efficiency technologies. The calculator is designed for owners of single trucks as well as multiple-truck fleets.

CLEAN DIESEL

Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) Program
Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) is an enforceable rule under Texas' State Implementation Plan (SIP). This Texas Commission on Environmental Quality web site provides information and downloadable documents on this control strategy.

National Clean Diesel Campaign
This U. S. Environmental Protection Agency program works to reduce the pollution emitted from diesel engines across the country through the implementation of varied control strategies and the aggressive involvement of national, state, and local partners.

Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance
Provides comprehensive information about the nationwide transition to ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD). On the site, DOE, EPA, engine vehicle and component manufacturers, all sectors of the petroleum industry, and diesel fuel consumers, such as trucking groups, are providing comprehensive information and technical coordination.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom so that the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free. President George W. Bush

U. S. Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Activities Database
DOE's Hydrogen Program and Fuel Cells 2000 have released a new searchable database of fuel cell and hydrogen activities in the United States. The database allows better access to information on stationary fuel cell installations, vehicle demonstrations and fueling stations - as well as state policies, initiatives and legislation aimed at advancing these technologies.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Educational Publications
A DOE web site. From here you can access easy-to-understand fact sheets and other information designed to introduce hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to non-technical audiences.

Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program
This DOE program works with partners to accelerate the development and successful market introduction of hydrogen and fuel cells technologies.

Hydrogen Analysis Resource Center
This DOE web site provides well-documented data to be used for hydrogen-related analytical activities. The data can serve as the basis for calculations, modeling, and other analytical activities. The web site includes calculator tools and links to websites with more sophisticated analysis tools, such as H2A and GREET.

National Hydrogen Association (NHA)
An excellent source for information on hydrogen and hydrogen technologies. The NHA provides data and educational materials to the media, safety and codes & standards officials, policy-makers, and the general public.

Texas State Technical College Fuel Cell Technology Curriculum
Partially funded by SECO, the curriculum was developed by Texas State Technical College in Waco under the auspices of the Texas State Leadership Consortium for Curriculum Development. The curriculum is based on the input of 14 fuel cell industry representatives from across the country, and is designed to train diversified technicians. The curriculum concentrates on the most widely-used fuel cell types and applications, including using fuels obtained from renewable energy sources.

Fuel Cells 2000
Fuel Cells 2000 is an activity of the Breakthrough Technologies Institute (BTI), a non-profit [501(c)(3)] educational organization formed to promote the development and early commercialization of fuel cells and related pollution-free, efficient energy generation, storage and utilization technologies and fuels.

Fuel Cell Test and Evaluation Center
A U.S. Department of Defense web site. The Center is a national resource facility for the independent, unbiased testing and validation of fuel cell power systems for both military and commercial applications.

Hydrogen.gov
A federal source of information on activities related to hydrogen and fuel cells. This web site was developed to further the goals of the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative and encourage greater collaboration and sharing of information on hydrogen technology development activities among state and local governments, commercial entities, international organizations and the general public.

Fuel Cell Vehicles
This DOE/EPA web site includes News, Links, Benefits, Comparisons, and a Fuel Economy Guide.

Fuel Cell Tutorial
An excellent tutorial on fuel cell technology offered by DOE.

Collecting the History of Fuel Cells
A Smithsonian National Museum of American History web site.

Fuel Cells
A Wikipedia encyclopedia web site.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV)

Our research indicates people buy a hybrid not for short-term economic gains, but to make a clear statement about what they want to do for the larger community. Lonnie Miller, Industry Analysis, R. L. Polk & Co

Plug-In Austin: Building a Market for Gas-Optional Hybrids
Under the direction of the Austin City Council, the City of Austin and Austin Energy are leading Plug-In Partners, a national campaign to demonstrate to automakers that a market exists today for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). Individuals can participate by signing the Plug-In Partners Petition indicating that you would seriously consider purchasing a PHEV if the cars are manufactured. Businesses can do the same thing through "soft" fleet orders. PHEVs have the potential to displace a large amount of gasoline by delivering up to 40 miles of electric range without recharging-a distance that includes most daily roundtrip commutes.

Plug-In Partners National Campaign
Plug-In Partners is a national grass-roots initiative to demonstrate to automakers that a market for flexible-fuel Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) exists today. The partners envisioned in this campaign are local and state governments, utilities, and environmental, consumer and business organizations.

Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Program
DOE's Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Program.

EV World
EV World has been online since 1998 with news, previews of latest developments in advanced electric and hybrid vehicles. Includes Internet's only electric vehicle owners database and features RealAudio interviews with electric vehicle (EV) industry leaders, and video clips of new cars.

Hybrid Center
Offers in-depth information on hybrid vehicle technology. The Consumer Center features a buyers' guide, comparison chart and reviews. In the Tech Center, viewers can look under the hood at the technology that powers the vehicles, keep abreast of new technology and find out which vehicles are full or partial hybrids.

hybridCARS.com
Information, news and a free hybrids newsletter.

Electric Auto Association (EAA)
EAA is a non-profit educational organization that promotes the advancement and widespread adoption of electric vehicles. EAA acts as a public source of information about developments in electric vehicle technology, encourages experimentation in the building of electric vehicles, and organizes public exhibits and events of electric vehicles to educate the public on the progress and benefits of electric vehicle technology.

Electric Drive Transportation Association
As an advocate for the adoption of electric drive technologies, EDTA serves as the unified voice for the industry and is the primary source of information and education related to electric drive. Memberships include a diverse representation of vehicle and equipment manufacturers, energy providers, component suppliers and end users.

CalCars
CalCars is a group of entrepreneurs, environmentalists, engineers and other citizens working to spur adoption of efficient, non-polluting automotive technologies. The CalCars goal is to build demand among highly receptive markets to encourage auto makers to produce 100+MPG "no-sacrifices" high-performance, clean hybrid cars. The site has numerous video and audio clips.

GreenHybrid
An interactive hybrid vehicles resource with discussion forums, articles, tips, the Real Hybrid Mileage Database and a hybrid car image gallery.

Hydraulic Hybrids - The Most Efficient Lowest Cost Hybrids
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fact sheet.

Hydraulic Hybrid Technology: A Proven Approach
An EPA fact sheet.

Silver In the Mine
Silver in the Mine was made possible through a grant to Austin Energy from the Department of Energy and the State Energy Conservation Office. It is an energy plan that imagines a Utility that uses clean energy to provide the electrical needs of our Citizens through a solar hydrogen infrastructure that integrates buildings, vehicles, and distributed energy generation. Silver in the Mine provides a comprehensive energy plan for a city. It is not the comprehensive energy plan for the City of Austin.

Propane & Natural Gas

Propane, also known as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), is the leading alternative fuel in the country. It is also the nation's #1 alternative vehicular fuel today.

Railroad Commission of Texas Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division
Created in 1991 by the Texas Legislature, the Railroad Commission of Texas' Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division (AFRED) is charged with researching and educating the public about propane and other environmentally beneficial fuels that can help reduce air pollution.

Texas Propane Gas Association
Promotes the success of the propane marketer and encourage the use of propane as a clean energy resource. Provide a clearinghouse for issues that affect the propane industry and generate a consensus to represent propane marketers before other business, governmental or regulatory bodies.

National Propane Gas Association (NPGA)
NPGA is the national trade association representing the propane industry. Its membership includes small businesses and large corporations engaged in the retail marketing of propane gas and appliances; producers and wholesalers of propane equipment, manufacturers and distributors of propane gas appliances and equipment; fabricators of propane gas cylinders and tanks; and propane transporters.

International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles
Established in 1986 to provide the NGV industry with an international forum and to foster growth, safety, product development and policy formation.

Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition
The NGVC is a national organization dedicated to the development of a growing, sustainable and profitable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or hydrogen.

Propane Fuel
This web site has propane facts and tips.

Usepropane.com
A web site designed for consumer to discover the many benefits of using propane.

Next Generation of Natural Gas Vehicles Program Fact Sheet

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