Auto show display helps consumers make sense of alternate fuel vehicles

By Roz Varon

February 12, 2007 - With gas prices going up and down, more consumers are looking into the benefits of buying alternative fuel vehicles. A special display at the Chicago Auto Show may help sort it all out for car buyers. Hybrid cars, flex fuel, clean diesel. If you're confused by the variety of alternative fuel vehicles now being offered, you're not alone!

"I don't know too much about them," said Daphne Carter, auto show visitor.

"It's hard to figure out how much the alternative energy requires to make, as opposed to an oil driven car, which we know how much that uses," said Steve Baroni, auto show visitor.

According to the Auto Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, over 1 million alternative fuel vehicles were sold last year, so this year they have devoted an entire exhibit to these cars at the Chicago Auto Show.

"By having a display like this, it might give people a glimpse of what the manufacturers are thinking of to make it better, safer and environmentally friendly for the future," said Jerry Cizek, Chicago Auto Show general manager.

And it's east to understand. For instance, a flex fuel vehicle can run on E-85 (ethanol), gasoline or a combination of both. An electric hybrid uses an electric battery for speeds under 40 mph and gasoline for highway speeds.

Saving money, or saving the environment, it depends. more on this story