With gas prices hitting a nationwide average of $3.57 this week, alternative fuels are receiving a lot of interest across the country.

The campus’ Earth Week celebration drew to a conclusion last night when Michael Tamor, executive technical leader of hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicle technology for Ford’s research and advanced engineering department, discussed alternative fueling with students, faculty and community members in the Union Theater.

There is a 40 year supply of oil from proven reserves, with much more oil estimated in potential oil resources, Tamor said.

The Middle East has 733.9 billion barrels of oil in their reserves, while North America has 61.8 billion oil barrels, Tamor said.

One alternative fueling that has been suggested is hydrocarbon fueling.

Tamor said there is currently a 200 year supply of coal for hydrocarbon fueling, with the United States being a huge supplier of coal.

‘The U.S. is the Saudi Arabia of coal,’ Tamor said.

The idea of electric vehicles may seem fairly recent to some people, but the technology has been around for about a century.

In 1900, 40 percent of vehicles were electric powered, 40 percent were steam powered and 20 percent were petroleum powered, Tamor said.

‘In the 1900’s, electric vehicles were favored for their silence, cleanliness and ease of use,’ Tamor said.

By 1910 electric vehicles were overtaken by internal combustion engine vehicles for several reasons including the growing availability of fuel, Tamor said.

Hybrid vehicles are viewed as cars of the future by some but were in existence as early as 1911, he said.

Ellen Wakeley, senior, would be interested in getting an alternatively fueled car someday, but said they are priced pretty high.

‘If I could afford it, then sure, but my current car isn’t old enough to merit a new one yet,’ Wakeley said.

Sarah Donley, senior, also expressed interest in alternative fueled cars but isn’t convinced that all automakers have the best intentions.

‘Yes, I would, but I think a lot of the ones hitting the market are just so they can have advertisements that say ‘hey we have one’ but do not solve the problem of too much fuel,’ Donley said.