Lotus Rental Car's
Lotus Rental Car 's - Alternative Fuel Vehicles
COMM 215
LMH
Instructor
6 December 2004
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
As a quick statement prior to beginning this assignment I thoroughly enjoyed researching this topic. It has been of personal interest to me for years. I have, in the past (as far back as the 1970 's), invested my personal time researching designs and building prototypes, which utilize alternative fuels for vehicle propulsion and various mechanical motion applications with a practical approach.
This assessment is submitted for the consideration of Lotus Rental Cars Chief Financial Officer, the topic covered is to assist in answering the question of the feasibility of adding alternative fuel vehicles to the rental vehicle fleet.
An Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV), by design, is intended to improve air quality and the environment by lowering (or eliminating) ozone-depleting emissions. In addition to reduced emissions a more recent socially accepted benefit is less dependence on foreign supplied oil products by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
There are various types of AFV designs in commercial use today, to include hybrid and flexible fuel designs. The most common are powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid petroleum gas (LPG), propane, hydrogen, alcohol (in the form of methanol or denatured alcohol), gasohol (blends of gasoline and up to 85% alcohol) and electric. These AFV types have been commercially available and in use by fleet applications in the U. S. since the 1960 's. Consumer availability of electric, propane and gasohol products for personal vehicle use began in the 1970 's. Currently, three main types of vehicles operating on alternative fuels are readily available:
· Vehicles contain a single fuel tank capable of operating on alcohol, gasoline or a combination of both (gasohol).
· Bi-Fuel Vehicles, which have two fuel systems allowing the driver to switch between gasoline and compressed natural
COMM 215
LMH
Instructor
6 December 2004
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
As a quick statement prior to beginning this assignment I thoroughly enjoyed researching this topic. It has been of personal interest to me for years. I have, in the past (as far back as the 1970 's), invested my personal time researching designs and building prototypes, which utilize alternative fuels for vehicle propulsion and various mechanical motion applications with a practical approach.
This assessment is submitted for the consideration of Lotus Rental Cars Chief Financial Officer, the topic covered is to assist in answering the question of the feasibility of adding alternative fuel vehicles to the rental vehicle fleet.
An Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV), by design, is intended to improve air quality and the environment by lowering (or eliminating) ozone-depleting emissions. In addition to reduced emissions a more recent socially accepted benefit is less dependence on foreign supplied oil products by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
There are various types of AFV designs in commercial use today, to include hybrid and flexible fuel designs. The most common are powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid petroleum gas (LPG), propane, hydrogen, alcohol (in the form of methanol or denatured alcohol), gasohol (blends of gasoline and up to 85% alcohol) and electric. These AFV types have been commercially available and in use by fleet applications in the U. S. since the 1960 's. Consumer availability of electric, propane and gasohol products for personal vehicle use began in the 1970 's. Currently, three main types of vehicles operating on alternative fuels are readily available:
· Vehicles contain a single fuel tank capable of operating on alcohol, gasoline or a combination of both (gasohol).
· Bi-Fuel Vehicles, which have two fuel systems allowing the driver to switch between gasoline and compressed natural