Mercedes Mullins
The United States' consumption of diesel fuel is a notable aspect of its energy usage. In 2023, diesel consumption in the transportation sector was less than three million barrels per day, while gasoline consumption was around 8.5 million barrels per day. This indicates that gasoline is the more popular transportation fuel, with consumption almost three times that of diesel. The transportation sector, including road vehicles, airplanes, trains, and ships, is the second-largest energy-consuming sector in the US. The average annual fuel consumption per vehicle is influenced by factors such as miles travelled and fuel economy, with long-haul Class 8 trucks consuming the most fuel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diesel consumption in the US transportation sector in 2023 | Less than 3 million barrels per day |
| Gasoline consumption in the US transportation sector in 2023 | 8.5 million barrels per day |
| Diesel consumption in the US in 2017 | 166.47 million gallons per day |
| Gasoline consumption in the US in 2017 | 391.71 million gallons per day |
| Gasoline consumption in the US in 2018 | 392 million gallons per day |
| Gasoline consumption in the US in 2023 | 376 million gallons per day |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel consumption is decreasing
While gasoline and diesel consumption in the US has remained relatively constant over the last two decades, there is evidence to suggest that diesel consumption is decreasing.
In 2023, gasoline consumption increased, while distillate fuel oil (diesel) consumption decreased. Gasoline consumption is almost three times higher than diesel consumption, with the latter amounting to less than three million barrels per day. The transportation sector, which includes public and personal transportation by road vehicles, airplanes, trains, and ships, is the second-largest energy-consuming sector in the US.
Diesel fuel is consumed in every sector, but more than three-quarters is used in the transportation sector, mainly by commercial trucks, ships, and trains. In 2020, US gasoline consumption decreased to 8 million barrels per day, down 14% from 2019—the lowest level since 1997. That year, diesel consumption decreased by 8% from 2019.
The decline in diesel consumption can be attributed to various factors, including the increased popularity of electric vehicles, improvements in fuel efficiency, and government incentives for alternative fuels. Additionally, the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly contributed to the decrease in diesel consumption, particularly in the transportation sector.
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Gasoline consumption is higher
Gasoline consumption is significantly higher than diesel consumption in the United States. In 2023, the U.S. consumed around 8.5 million barrels of gasoline per day, or about 376 million gallons per day (based on 42 gallons per barrel). This is close to three times the amount of diesel consumed, which amounts to less than 3 million barrels or around 126 million gallons per day. The high level of gasoline consumption is largely due to the transportation sector, which includes road vehicles, airplanes, trains, and ships. This sector is the second-largest energy-consuming sector in the U.S., and most of its energy comes from petroleum or crude oil.
The difference in consumption between gasoline and diesel can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, gasoline has been the more popular transportation fuel in the U.S. for decades. While diesel is commonly used in trucks, buses, and some cars, gasoline is still the fuel of choice for the majority of vehicles on the road. Additionally, gasoline-powered vehicles tend to have a higher fuel economy than diesel-powered ones, especially for long-distance travel with light loads. This is reflected in the average annual fuel use per vehicle, which is lower for gasoline-powered cars.
Another factor contributing to the higher gasoline consumption is the miles travelled per year. Vehicles that travel long distances, such as Class 8 trucks, consume more fuel on average. Gasoline-powered vehicles are often used for long-distance travel and commuting, contributing to the overall higher gasoline consumption.
It is worth noting that the consumption of diesel and gasoline has remained relatively constant over the last two decades, even as car sales have decreased since 2014. This suggests that while the number of vehicles may have decreased, the fuel consumption per vehicle has stayed relatively high. Additionally, government incentives have led to an increase in biofuel consumption, with over 1.6 billion gallons consumed annually in the U.S.
In summary, gasoline consumption in the U.S. is significantly higher than diesel consumption due to various factors such as the popularity of gasoline as a transportation fuel, the fuel economy of gasoline vehicles, and the miles travelled per year. While diesel fuel plays an important role, particularly in heavy-duty vehicles, gasoline continues to dominate the U.S. fuel market, especially in the transportation sector.
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Renewable diesel fuel
The United States consumed 391.71 million gallons of gasoline per day in 2017, along with 166.47 million gallons of distillates (including diesel) per day in the same year. Gasoline consumption is close to three times higher than diesel consumption, with the latter amounting to less than three million barrels per day in 2023.
There are several technology pathways to produce renewable diesel. Traditional hydrotreating is a process used in petroleum refineries, reacting the feedstock (lipids) with hydrogen under elevated temperatures and pressures in the presence of a catalyst. Commercial plants currently use this technology. Another method is biological sugar upgrading, which uses a biochemical deconstruction process, similar to that used with cellulosic ethanol, with the addition of organisms that convert sugars to hydrocarbons. Catalytic conversion of sugars involves a series of catalytic reactions to convert a carbohydrate stream into hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrothermal processing uses high pressure and moderate temperature to initiate the chemical decomposition of biomass or wet waste materials to produce an oil that may be catalytically upgraded to hydrocarbon fuels.
Renewable diesel offers several benefits. It is made from renewable sources, burns clean, and works just like traditional diesel. It reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality. It can be used in existing infrastructure and diesel engines with no blending required. Renewable diesel has also been shown to reduce both carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions compared to petroleum diesel.
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Diesel retail prices
While I can provide information on diesel retail prices, it is difficult to do so without more context or a specific time frame.
In general, the price of diesel fuel in the US is released weekly. In 2017, the US consumed 166.47 million gallons of distillates (including diesel) per day. In 2023, diesel consumption decreased, while gasoline consumption increased. Gasoline consumption is close to three times higher than diesel consumption, with diesel consumption at less than three million barrels per day.
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Diesel consumption by vehicle type
In 2022, distillate or diesel fuel consumption by the US transportation sector was about 2.98 million barrels per day or about 125 million gallons per day. This consumption accounted for about 75% of total US distillate consumption and about 15% of total US petroleum consumption. On an energy content basis, diesel fuel accounted for about 23% of total energy consumption in the US transportation sector and about 6% of the US total.
Diesel fuel is used in trucks, trains, boats, barges, public buses, and school buses. It powers most of the farm and construction equipment in the United States. Diesel-engine-powered machinery can do demanding construction work, such as lifting steel beams, digging foundations and trenches, drilling wells, paving roads, and moving soil and rocks. The US military uses diesel fuel in tanks and trucks because diesel fuel is less flammable and less explosive than other fuels.
Class 8 trucks, which typically travel long distances carrying heavy loads, consume the most fuel on average compared to any other vehicle type. Refuse trucks are inefficient because of their heavy loads and stop-and-go drive cycles and are the second-largest consumers of fuel. Transit buses are also inefficient due to their drive cycles and heavy loads. Demand response, delivery trucks, and school buses have a higher fuel economy, which reduces their annual fuel use.
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Frequently asked questions
The US consumed less than three million barrels of diesel fuel per day in 2023.
Gasoline consumption is close to three times higher than diesel consumption. In 2017, the US consumed 391.71 million gallons of gasoline per day, compared to 166.47 million gallons of total distillates (including diesel) per day.
The transportation sector, which includes public and personal transportation by road vehicles, airplanes, trains, and ships, is the second-largest energy-consuming sector in the US. In 2023, this sector consumed less than three million barrels of diesel fuel per day.
Diesel consumption noted a decrease in 2023.
