According to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), 339,936 alternative fuel autos were registered in New York last year, an increase of 24 percent over the 274,000 registered a year earlier.

So is New York in the fast lane when it comes to alternative fueled vehicles?

Don't get your motor running just yet.

When you read about the stats in a recent article [1], you'll find the rubber doesn't always meet the road.

For instance:

• 173,229 of the cars were so-called "flex-fuel," vehicles that run on either gasoline or ethanol. However, virtually all the cars in NY run on gasoline as there are a dearth of gas stations that sell E-85, the fuel that's 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline
• 143,908 were diesel vehicles -- the AAM defines alternative vehicles are other than gasoline.
• 22,799 were hybrids - not exactly king of road considering it ranks New York State fourth after states like California and Florida.