Discover How Ordinary People Are Kicking the Gasoline Habit for Good

It's not just your typical "backyard mechanic" who is converting his car, SUV or truck these days. Nor is it the guy who wants to pimp his ride with a trunk full of stereo equipment.

Moms, dads, teens and even grandmas are checking out ways to turn their existing gas powered ride into a water burning, or electric, or ethanol consuming alternative fuel vehicle. Those moms, dads, teens and grandmas who are currently driving a diesel burning vehicle are setting up "stills" in their garages to make their own fuel.

Some of them, like Carla (pictured) made and installed a device in her car herself to convert water to HHO gas to boost her gas burning efficiency. More than 12,000 other people have done the same thing according to one company that sells plans that include complete instructions and parts lists (that add up to a total cost of about $200)online. (You can find reviews of the top three programs for a water fuel conversion here.)

Others are seeking out those backyard mechanics, or even taking their car, and the plans for what they want done to the same mechanics they've been taking their car to for years. In some cases, like full electric conversions, the actual process can take weeks instead of hours to complete. Electric conversions also vary wildly in price with one book outlining a process that can be done for only a few hundred dollars while some conversions can run between $1-5,000.

Mechanical Expertise Not Needed
The important thing to understand at this point is that you don't have to be a mechanical expert to get out from under the thumb of big oil. You do have choices that are easy enough for anyone to do. You also have affordable options for having someone else do the work for you. The hardest part can sometimes be finding that person, but as we'll discuss in a minute, even that isn't a problem if you know where to look.

First though, take a few minutes to watch this video. It does a really great job of explaining the benefits and drawbacks of each major alternative fuel source in a little under 8 minutes. Their conclusion doesn't necessarily mean there's only one way to go. If you note as they go along, they are talking about a lot of different driving conditions. You need to match your needs to the right fuel for you.

There are basically four major branches of alternative fuels available today. You can convert your car to run either entirely or partially on ethanol, electric power, or on hydrogen power. There are variations on each that we'll discuss in a minute.

Biodiesel and Ethanol are Not the Same
The fourth option is really only an alternative if you are currently driving a fossil diesel engine. That option is not to convert your vehicle in any way, but instead to make your own fuel entirely. There are a lot of sources you can use for raw materials, but most people will either use waste vegetable oil that they get from restaurants, or grow their own algae for biodiesel.

If you want to learn more about how to make your own biodiesel and which of the biodiesel kits is right for you, I have written another lens you might be interested in, "Biodiesel Kits & e 85 Conversions". That lens talks about what you need to know about biodiesel and ethanol to get you started on using either one of those fuels. It's important to know that while they are both considered biofuels, they are very different and one car can't run both.

There is a website that helps keep track of all the variations that real people are making and driving today. It is called We Make Hybrids.

The site accepts stories from real people who have converted their vehicle to use some other fuel than gasoline or diesel. That includes the water for fuel cars, completely homemade electric cars, e85 conversions, small auto company, creations, and so on.

Recently they included a story and video on a pickup truck that had been modified to use wind power, electric power and liquid propane. They've also spotlighted the motorized cycles that are used a lot in other parts of the world.

Different Technologies/Companies Linked
The site is always cruising for examples and more. If they find instructions on how to do a certain conversion, they will include links to those companies. They don't sell a product of their own or endorse any one major type of conversion over another.

There's a link down near the bottom in the sidebar to use to upload your story or link to your YouTube video. They also have a "site use" page that you should read that tells what happens after you submit your story.