Americans fed up with high gas prices can learn about the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles Oct. 3 as part of a nationwide campaign spearheaded by the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), headquartered at West Virginia University.

The National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day Odyssey events will feature industry experts and dozens of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and displays at 86 sites across the country, including WVU . The NAFTC is organizing the event in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program.

Al Ebron, NAFTC executive director and event coordinator, will kick off this years celebration at the National Media Kickoff Event in Nashville. This event, held in conjunction with Nashville Auto-Diesel College and Clean Cities of Middle Tennessee, will serve as the heart of the local events taking place across the country and in Canada.

We anxiously await the opportunity to kick off National AFV Day Odyssey once again,Ebron said.This event has served as the pulse across America for the promotion of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

It is the largest event of its kind, and we are proud of its mission as we seek to empower fellow Americans to find out what they can do to become part of the solution to challenges associated with the nations dependence on foreign oil,he added.

Each year since its inception in 2002, National AFV Day Odyssey has drawn record-breaking crowds and has allowed millions to hear Odysseys message. In 2006, with 60 participating sites in three countries, the event surpassed expectations by attracting nearly 40,000 attendees and reaching more than 30 million individuals through media coverage. Participants took part in activities such as ride-and-drives, educational seminars and training workshops, while being provided with numerous networking opportunities in an effort to educate the public on the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles.

The NAFTC is a nationwide alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle training organization. The consortium develops and disseminates curricula and training programs and conducts education and outreach activities. The group includes 35 higher-education institutions dedicated to educating technicians and the public about clean, cost-effective vehicles.

The Department of Energy Clean Cities Program is a government-industry partnership designed to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector by advancing the use of alternative fuels and vehicles, idol reduction technologies, hybrid electric vehicles, fuel blends, and fuel economy measures. The Clean Cities Program was established in 1993 with its first designated coalition located in Atlanta.

Nationally, the event is receiving support from the U.S. DOE Clean Cities Program, Toyota, the National Biodiesel Board, Fuel Advantage Magazine and WVU .

For information about the national program, contact Amy Gandy, National AFV Day event manager, at 304-293-7882.

More on the Net: www.NationalAFVDayOdyssey.org