The U.S. Department of Energy has made its Alternative Fueling Station Locator available for drivers using their cell phone, BlackBerry, or other personal digital assistant (PDA).


The Locator allows drivers to find the five closest biodiesel, electricity, E85 (ethanol), hydrogen, natural gas, and propane fueling sites. The tool uses Google Maps to automatically generate maps to fueling sites and lists each station's contact information and business hours.

"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 where ever they want."

The mobile station locator is part of the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center web site. It was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which manages the AFDC. The tool is sponsored by the Clean Cities initiative, a government-industry partnership sponsored by DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program.

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.

More info: www.nrel.gov