Filling 'er up with gas -- it need't be gasoline

The same fuel used to heat a house can be used to run a car, if it's the sporty two-seater introduced Thursday by Ford Motor Company.

Operating on natural gas, methane, or propane, the alternative fuels vehicle -- dubbed AFV -- can be filled up at home with a special compressor unit.

Ford research officials said a mass-produced methane-fueled car will be slightly more expensive than a comparable gasoline-fueled auto. But they said the lower cost of natural gas - running around 90 cents a gallon - makes up the difference.

Ford last month began production on propane-fueled cars for sale in Canada. These autos will be offered in the United States this spring.