The United States faces major challenges in meeting the ever-increasing demand for transportation goods and services while striving to minimize adverse energy, environmental, and economic impacts. More efficient vehicles are imperative to meet these challenges—that's why C5 is working to advance energy efficient vehicles and environmentally friendly fuels. There are many exciting new technologies on the horizon like the plug in hybrid vehicles, full electric and hydrogen technologies that will complement the existing alternative fuels available today such as propane, compressed natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol, and hybrid vehicles. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuel Data Center to learn more.

New Tool to location cleaner vehicles developed by the California Air Resource Board

Car buyers looking for low polluting vehicles have new tool. On November 19, ARB unveiled its revamped website, Driveclean.ca.gov, which helps consumers choose the least polluting cars on the market. The new website, using information collected for vehicle certification in California, offers a practical system that ranks vehicles according to their emission characteristics and provides tools to compare models.

In addition, consumers will find information on available incentives being offered by various federal, state and local governments, and private corporations and businesses. ARB is preparing for its own new incentive program, the Zero- Emission and Plug-In Hybrid Light-Duty Vehicle Rebate Project, slated to begin the first quarter of 2010. Incentives will range between $1,500 and $5,000 for qualifying clean technology vehicles, such as plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.