By the NREL and Colorado Energy News

GOLDEN - Until recently driving cross-country or even around town in an alternative fuel vehicle required those behind the wheel to do some homework in order to locate the nearest fueling station.

In another sign that the momentum for alternative fuels is building, a new program enables drivers to find alternative fueling stations using their cell phones and PDA’s. Consumers on-the-go can now access the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Alternative Fueling Station Locator using their cell phone, BlackBerry, or other personal digital assistant. Detailed driving directions and an instant phone connection to the station can be accessed by inputting the link www.afdc.energy.gov/stations/m/ into your Internet-capable mobile device.

The Mobile Alternative Fueling Station Locator enables drivers to find the five closest biodiesel, electricity, E85 (ethanol), hydrogen, natural gas, and propane fueling sites. This convenient tool uses well-known, easy-to-navigate Google Maps to automatically generate maps to fueling sites and lists each station’s contact information and business hours. Detailed driving directions and an instant phone connection to the station can all be accessed at www.afdc.energy.gov/stations/m/.

“Most drivers don’t realize alternative fuels are readily
available in their areas, so the goal of the mobile station
locator is to show them that alternative fueling sites are
conveniently located,” says Dennis Smith, National Clean Cities director.

“Mobile Internet access means consumers can find alternative fuel stations at their convenience, whenever and whereever they want.”

The mobile station locator is part of the Alternative Fuels and
Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) Web site
(www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc). It was developed by the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which manages the AFDC. The
tool is sponsored by the Clean Cities initiative
(www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities), a government-industry
partnership sponsored by DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program.

With almost 90 active coalitions and more than 5,400
stakeholders across the country, Clean Cities’ mission is to
reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. The
program promotes alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, fuel
blends, fuel economy measures, hybrid vehicles, and idle
reduction technologies.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national
laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research
and development. NREL is operated for DOE by The Alliance for
Sustainable Energy, LLC.