Over the next 10 to 25 years, primary fuels used in automobiles may be changing from gasoline and diesel fuels to new "alternative" fuels. Two fuels that have generated much interest are hydrogen and methanol, and will propel vehicles through new power-plant concepts. However, these new breeds of vehicle systems introduce a new class of safety hazards. This paper will introduce the basic concepts of these new vehicles and briefly describe some of the systems these vehicles have that are not present in conventional gasoline-or diesel-fuels internal combustion vehicles. This paper will then explore the new safety concerns, risks, and hazards associated with these new vehicle systems as well as to predict what elements future safety standards may contain. (C) 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process.