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Alternative cars leave gasoline in the past

06:30 PM CDT on Friday, October 17, 2008

KVUE News

Austin is hosting an unusual car show this weekend. The Alternative Car Expo showcases alternatives to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. The vehicles on display could change the way America fuels up.
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KVUE's Clara Tuma reports
10/17/2008
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They're not exactly "Jetson" quality, but the vehicles on display at the Palmer Events Center were once considered just as futuristic as space cars.

An electric motorcycle with top speeds of 75 miles an hour, vehicles running on vegetable oil and biodiesel, a Honda Civic that runs on natural gas -- many of the vehicles at the expo are already out on the road.

Teri Green's been driving her natural-gas powered Honda for a year. She can fill it with natural gas from her home for about $1.25 a gallon.

"I average around 30 in the city and around 40 on the highway," Green said. "It has to be stored in a cylinder, carbon-wrapped steel cylinder. It's stored right here."

This is the first time the Alternative Car Expo and Conference has been held outside of California.

"I think it's really good for the public to get a chance to see it and get familiar with what's available, what's coming up, how far are we from these automobiles coming to market," said Bryan Larue.
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Visitors can test-drive some vehicles, including ones powered by electricity or natural gas.

I like it," said Ron Zagarri. "It's so much like any other car you don't really notice a difference in driving because it's a standard internal combustion engine."

Inside the center, visitors also can inspect an electric Porsche, a propane-powered truck and a hybrid bus -- all designed to move the country into the future, leaving gasoline largely a part of the past.

The conference continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Palmer Events Center. It is free, but parking costs $7.

From: Green Project

I think this is a very smart thing to start changing to. It may be expensive now but it'll be much better and more sustainable on the long run.