LEWISTON — The class was held in a parking lot. The lesson: The fuel of the future is up to you.

While today’s drivers are dependent on gasoline, alternative fuel choices are about to expand in a big way, Lewiston High School science teacher Tom Stocker said Wednesday. He was standing outside with 75 freshmen and four car types: electric, hybrid, gas-miser and diesel.

With more hybrids and electric vehicles appearing on the market, choices in the next five to 10 years will grow, Stocker said. You’ll be able to decide between a standard engine, a diesel, a hybrid, a 100 percent electric or a hydrogen fuel cell.

“That’s your future,” Stocker said. “The best thing about it is all of these are options. When you have options, you have the power of choice in your hands.”

Choices, he said, will affect prices.

“If you don’t like the price of gas, you’re going to be able to do something about it,” he said. “Maybe the gas in your future will last twice as long, and you’ll help keep the price down.”

Just as cell phone and entertainment technology is constantly changing, so is car technology. “You’re going to be a part of that,” Stocker told his students. “You should understand where technology is now and where it’s going.”

Part of the lesson on each:

Electric: Tom Evan of Bates College said the small truck, made by e-ride Industries of Minnesota, runs completely on electricity. It’s a low-speed vehicle used on campus. He can drive it on roads where the speed limit is 35 mph. He plugs it in every other night. The drawbacks are that the batteries can freeze in the winter; precautions are needed to prevent that.

Stocker said new electric cars include the Nissan Leaf, which can go 76 to 100 miles per charge, (less when the heat or air conditioning is used); and hybrids such as the Chevrolet Volt, which uses electricity and gas.

Prius Hybrid: Teacher Linda St. Laurent started her Prius for the students. It made no noise. “When you get to a stop light, it’ll turn off,” Stocker said. “Driving down the road, if you’re coasting, it goes off. You don’t have to restart it, just step on the gas. The engine kicks in.” The Prius averages 54 miles per gallon now, and about 45 mpg in the winter. It’s not the best on snowy, icy roads, St. Laurent said.

Toyota Yaris: This compact car sells for around $13,000 new. It gets about 38 mpg, Stocker said. The teacher who owns the Yaris told Stocker it’s fun to drive. “It’s good in the winter, as long as he’s got studded snow tires,” Stocker said. “He said he would recommend this to a friend.”

Diesel Jetta: Stocker said he bought his diesel used. “I really wanted a new Prius, but I didn’t have the money.” He was worried whether the technology, which was then new, would work. His car gets 40 mpg in town, 45 on the highway.

After the lessons, freshmen said they’re thinking about buying a car that won’t cost a bundle to run.

Evan Gosselin, 15, said that when he buys a car, mileage as well as price will be important.

“I like the electric,” said Shelby Roux, 14. Her father drives a truck that’s a gas guzzler. She likes the idea of never having to buy gas.

And, an electric car wouldn’t pollute the air, she said. “There’s no emissions. It’s pretty easy to charge. All you need is a wall plug like what your dryer runs off.”

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