Sales of alternative fuel vehicles on the rise

With gas prices remaining in the realm of the truly ridiculous and technology improving, it only makes sense that sales of alternative fuel vehicles are growing. According to new research by R.L. Polk & Co., there are now 9 million vehicles on U.S. roads that do not rely on gas for their sole source of power.

8.3 million of those vehicles were on the road at the end of last year, and there have been 700,000 more hybrids, diesel and ethanol vehicles sold so far this year.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers have set a goal of selling 1 million this year, so they are well on their way to meeting that. The organization is ambitiously aiming to sell 2 million vehicles in 2008. The growth has been dramatic – there were only 3 million alternative fuel vehicles on the road in 2000.

There are now 46 models of alternative fuel vehicles on sale in the U.S. including E85, clean diesel and hybrid. 35 more models are also in development.