This paper provides an overview of the types of alternative technologies under investigation to provide for the vehicles of the future.

A panacea for the environmental problems of modern motor vehicles – especially their use of non-renewable oil and their emissions – has long been the subject of speculation. Various alternative fuels are put forward as solutions to the world’s diminishing reserves of oil, but each seems to have its own issues and problems to deal with, not to mention effects on agricultural crops previously destined for human food consumption. Meanwhile, the use of natural gas and biogas appear as feasible interim solutions to fuel shortages, but the pressure continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so that the ‘holy grail’ of vehicle fuels is to achieve a carbon-free status. One possibility is the use of hydrogen, but this remains elusive.

It should be noted that laws of physics dictate some form of energy to provide motive force to propel vehicles. In general, all of the types of vehicle technology involve energy input either in terms of fuel or electrical energy supply from an external source. The first part of the discussion introduces the history of various alternative vehicle types before later discussing hybrid vehicle options to use alternative fuels, electric, compressed air and hydrogen vehicles, and Australia’s outlook.