"Economies throughout the developing world have been undergoing rapid growth over most of
the last 20 years, notably China and India. Increasing economic growth is leading to increased
global transportation demand. Since most means of transportation currently use petroleum-based
fuels, there is an increasing demand for petroleum resources. At the same time, security issues
and environmental concerns are calling for lessening dependence on petroleum. With these
growing demands on a global basis, it is not surprising that alternative fuel technologies in the
automotive sector are rising in importance.
This paper reviews major light vehicle (car and light truck) fuel and fuel saving technologies
either currently available or on the horizon that can be employed to reduce global petroleum
demand including: diesel, alcohols (butanol and ethanol), biodiesel, straight vegetable oil,
biomass-based diesel and gasoline, coal- or natural gas-based diesel and gasoline, natural gas,
hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, electrification of
accessories, vehicle light weighting, advanced drive train technologies, as well as vehicle use
technologies."