Biodiesel
This relatively new type of alternative fuel is processed from any
vegetable oil—including used oil from fast-food
restaurants—and can power most diesel-engine vehicles
without modification. Sales of biodiesel are gradually
increasing—75 million gallons were sold in the U.S. in
2005—and many government vehicles like these from the USDA
use it to fill up. Though it burns 78 percent cleaner than
petroleum diesel and comes from a renewable source, it is double
the cost and fueling stations are scattered. Furthermore, only a
fraction of vehicles in the U.S. have diesel engines, though new
fuel-efficient models on the market have recently gained in
popularity.