Topic outline

  • Alternate Fuels for Automotive Vehicles

    Credits: 2 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    This course presents an overview of six alternative fuels used for vehicles: biodiesel, electricity, ethanol blended with gasoline, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane. In each case a description is given of the physical properties of the fuel, its source (what it is produced from), its environmental advantages and disadvantages, its effectiveness as a power source for a vehicle, its current availability (including its distribution system), and any characteristic problems which are unique to it.

    The course material consists of concise, easy-to-read fact sheets distributed by the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center of the U.S. Dept. of Energy. An engineer completing the course will possess useful, general scientific knowledge of the current state-of-the-art of alternative fuels without having to spend considerable time developing specialized knowledge of each fuel.

    Topics:

    • Biodiesel as a vehicle fuel
    • Hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles
    • Flexible fuel vehicles (ethanol and gasoline)
    • Hydrogen fuel cells used to power a vehicle
    • Natural gas as a vehicle fuel
    • Propane as a vehicle fuel

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.


    Intended Audience: civil, mechanical, and transportation engineers, and would be of particular interest to engineers serving on governmental planning boards or concerned with maintaining fleet operations for a private company or for the military.
    Publication Source: US Dept. of Energy

    Mark Rossow PhD, PE (retired)
    • Topic 1