Alternative Fuels

Alternative Fuels terms

1. Advanced Technology Vehicles A vehicle that combines new engine, power, or drivetrain systems to significantly improve fuel economy.
2. Alternative Fuel Vehicles A dedicated, flexible fuel, or dual-fuel vehicle designed to operate on at least one alternative fuel.
3. Alternative Fuels A popular term for "non-conventional" transportation fuels derived from natural gas (propane, compressed natural gas, methanol, etc.
4. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International (ASTM) A nonprofit organization that develops and delivers international standards. ASTM standards, test methods, specifications, and procedures are recognized…
5. Autoignition Temperature The lowest temperature at which a flammable gas vapor will ignite spontaneously, without a source of ignition, after several minutes of exposure to…
6. Biochemical Chemical reactions in living organisms.
7. Biochemical Conversion Using enzymes and catalysts to change biological substances chemically to produce energy products.
8. Biomass The aggregate amount of living matter or a specific species within a specific habitat, or the total number of a specific species in a specific habitat.
9. Blender Pump A fuel dispenser that draws fuel from two separate storage tanks and can dispense preprogrammed blends of those two fuels.
10. Cetane Number A measure of a fuel's (liquid) ease of self-ignition.
11. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1970 creating two gasoline standards to reduce vehicle emissions in highly polluted cities by requiring gasoline to…
12. E85 A high-level gasoline-ethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on geography and season.
13. Electric Grid An interconnected system that maintains an instantaneous balance between supply and demand (generation and load) while moving electricity from generation…
14. Electricity Electric current used as a power source. Electricity can be produced from a variety of feedstocks, including oil, coal, nuclear, hydro, natural gas, wind…
15. Emission Control Technologies Equipment used in diesel-powered vehicles to reduce exhaust emissions, such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
16. Energy Policy Act of 1992 Passed by Congress to enhance U.S. energy security by requiring federal, state, and alternative fuel provider fleets to implement petroleum-reduction…
17. Feedstocks Any material converted to another form of fuel or energy product. An example is using cornstarch to produce ethanol.
18. Flash Point The minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off vapor within a test vessel in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the…
19. Flow Improvers A chemical used in fuel to reduce friction and increase performance.
20. Gasoline Gallon Equivalent (GGE) (GGE) The amount of fuel it takes to equal the energy content of one liquid gallon of gasoline.
21. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (GVWR) The maximum weight of a vehicle, including curb weight (the weight of the vehicle on its own) and payload (the weight of cargo).
22. Higher Heating Value (HHV) (HHV) The maximum heating value of a fuel sample, which includes the calorific value of the fuel (bone dry) and the latent heat of vaporization of the water in…
23. Higher Lubricity The ability to reduce friction—usually in fuel pumps and fuel injectors.
24. Incremental Price The additional price of an alternative fuel vehicle over a similar conventional vehicle.
25. Internal Combustion Engine A conventional vehicle motor that burns fossil fuel in a chamber in the presence of air.
26. Kilowatt Hours A measurement for electricity use.
27. Legacy Chargers Legacy electric charging systems such as inductive paddles. Learn more about types of chargers.
28. Lower Heating Value (LHV) (LHV) The heating value is the amount of heat released during the combustion of a specific substance, usually a fuel or food.
29. Negative Energy Balance When producing a fuel takes more energy than the amount of energy the fuel provides.
30. Oxygenate A cleaner-burning additive in a fuel—usually containing hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Examples are ethers and alchohols, such as ethanol and methanol.
31. Oxygenated Fuels Fuels blended with an additive—usually ether or ethanol—to increase oxygen content, allowing more-thorough combustion for reduced carbon monoxide…
32. Passenger-Miles per Gallon Pmpg is the vehicle miles per gallon multiplied by the number of passengers traveling in the vehicle.
33. Positive Energy Balance When producing a fuel takes less energy than the amount of energy the fuel provides.
34. Pump Octane Number This number represents the ability of a fuel to resist knocking when ignited in the cylinder of an internal-combustion engine.
35. Regenerative Braking A feature of hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles that captures energy normally lost during braking by using the electric motor as a generator and storing…
36. Renewable Fuels Standard A regulation created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and implemented by the U.S.
37. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) (SCR) Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a means of converting nitrogen oxides (NOx) into nitrogen (N2) and water (H20).
38. Tailpipe Emissions Emissions produced through fuel combustion during a vehicle's operation.
39. Tallow Animal fat that can be used to produce biodiesel.
40. Technical Response Service For assistance with technical questions about alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, email the Technical Response Service at technicalresponse@icfi.
41. Thermochemical Heat and pressure-based chemical reactions that produce energy. Through gasification (heating biomass by partial oxidation to produce synthesis gas) and…
42. Vehicle Categories A system of classifying vehicles (e.g., passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trailers, off-road vehicles, and special-purpose vehicles).
43. Vehicle Weight Class The size of vehicles. Includes light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles based on their gross vehicle weight rating (the weight of a vehicle on its…
44. Yellow Grease Second-hand cooking oil that can be used to produce biodiesel.