The R.L. Polk and Co.figures show almost 328,000 hybrid electric, ethanol-capable E-85 and clean diesel autos on Pennsylvania's roads in 2006, marking an increase of 16 percent from 2005 when there were almost 282,000.

Pennsylvania ranks eighth in the nation in terms of total number of Alternative Fuel Autos on the state's roads.

The Polk sales figures also reveal that on a national level an unprecedented 1.5 million Alternative Fuel Autos were sold in 2006, surpassing automakers' sales expectations by 50 percent. The 2006 sales bring the total number of Alternative Fuel Autos on the nation's roads to 10.5 million.

Currently manufacturers are offering 60 models of Alternative Fuel Automobiles for sale including hybrid electric, ethanol-capable E-85, and clean diesel, up from just 12 models for sale in 2000.

4/6/2007