Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Clean Burning Alternative Fuel Vehicles

According to the U.S. EPA, the transportation sector accounts for approximately one-third of total carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel consumption, making it a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Consider these facts:

• Emissions from vehicles of all types increased by 29 percent from 1990 to 2005. 

• More than 60 percent of those emissions were the result of gasoline consumption for personal vehicle use. 

• The remaining emissions were due to other transportation activities, including combustion of diesel fuel in heavy-duty vehicles and jet fuel in aircraft. 

Currently, 12 Toyota Prius hybrids are part of the Nicor Gas fleet. Hybrid cars produce 90 percent less pollutants than comparable non-hybrid cars, which translates to less airborne pollutants, and a cleaner environment.

In addition, as a natural gas utility, Nicor Gas has a fleet of vehicles that includes cars and trucks used in our daily business operations. To comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy regulations, 90 percent of Nicor Gas' new light-duty vehicles run on a non-petroleum fuel. Research shows that non-petroleum fuels not only reduce vehicle emissions but also lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil.