Regan Brown
The United States is heavily reliant on cars, with about 28% of its total energy consumption in 2021 dedicated to transporting people and goods. Gasoline is the most common vehicle fuel, with every state having between 6,000 and 9,000 gasoline-powered registered vehicles per 10,000 people. In 2022, Americans used about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline, with motor gasoline being one of the most consumed fuels and the main product of US oil refineries. However, environmental concerns are beginning to disrupt the gasoline-powered vehicle industry's monopoly, with electric vehicles and alternative fuels gaining traction.
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What You'll Learn
Gasoline
The US imports both finished motor gasoline and gasoline blending components from various countries, mainly into the East and West Coasts. Gasoline is produced from crude oil and other liquids, which are sourced from both domestic and foreign suppliers. Crude oil is broken down into its components and then reconfigured into new products.
The use of gasoline-powered vehicles has a significant environmental impact. Gasoline-powered vehicles are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, with extensive emissions of harmful pollutants and carcinogens. Additionally, gasoline spills can contaminate water surfaces, soils, and groundwater. As a result, there is a growing interest in alternative fuels, such as electric vehicles and biofuels.
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Electric vehicles
Gasoline is the most common vehicle fuel in the US, with Americans consuming about 135.73 billion gallons of motor gasoline in 2022. However, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular. In 2023, there were nearly 100 registered gasoline-powered vehicles for every electric vehicle in the US. Despite this, the growth rate for electric vehicles is higher than that of gasoline-powered vehicles. Between 2020 and 2022, the number of electric vehicles on the road grew by 135%, compared to a 3.5% increase in gasoline-powered vehicles per 10,000 people.
Despite these challenges, the electric vehicle market is growing, with new models offering longer ranges and more competitive prices. The development of more public charging stations is also making electric vehicles a more attractive option for consumers. Electric vehicles are now being used for a variety of purposes, including personal cars, trucks, SUVs, and school buses.
When choosing an electric vehicle, consumers can consider various factors, including acceleration, handling, comfort, cargo space, fuel efficiency, value, and driving enjoyment. There are also financial incentives to purchasing an electric vehicle, such as federal tax credits of up to $7,500 and additional incentives offered by some states.
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Diesel
While gasoline is the most common vehicle fuel in the US, diesel is also used. In fact, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Americans used about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline in 2022, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline (about 368.63 million gallons per day) and about 0.19 billion gallons of finished aviation gasoline.
The use of diesel fuel in the US has some regional variations. For example, in North Dakota, there are flex-fuel vehicles that can run on gasoline or ethanol, while in California, there are more electric and hybrid-electric vehicles. California is also the only state to have registered hydrogen-powered vehicles, which are considered a type of alternative fuel vehicle.
While the number of electric vehicles is growing at a higher rate than that of gasoline-powered vehicles, diesel-powered vehicles still play a significant role in the US transportation sector. Diesel fuel is particularly important for heavy-duty vehicles and equipment, and it will likely continue to be a significant fuel source in the US for the foreseeable future.
In summary, while gasoline is the most common vehicle fuel in the US, diesel fuel is also important, particularly for certain types of vehicles and equipment. The use of diesel fuel varies regionally, and it is expected to continue to be a significant energy source, despite the growing popularity of alternative fuel options.
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Biofuels
Gasoline is the most common vehicle fuel in the US, with a recorded gross output of approximately $101.4 billion in 2020. In 2022, Americans used about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline. However, gasoline-powered vehicles are losing their stronghold over the automobile industry, with alternative fuel vehicles becoming more popular.
One such alternative is biofuel, also known as fuel ethanol. The production of biofuel has skyrocketed from 175 million gallons in 1980 to an estimated 13.8 billion gallons in 2020. Biodiesel is a type of biofuel that can be used in concentrations of up to 5% in any diesel engine, including passenger cars and trucks. It is a renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking grease.
Ethanol is another widely used renewable biofuel made from corn and other plant materials. It is blended with gasoline for use in vehicles. Most of the finished motor gasoline sold for vehicles in the US contains about 10% ethanol by volume.
Compressed natural gas is another less common vehicle fuel that is considered a renewable biogas derived from the decomposition of organic matter. This fuel has been condensed to 1% of its original volume to allow for more storage per volume.
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Hydrogen-powered vehicles
In the United States, gasoline is the most common vehicle fuel. However, alternative fuels are becoming more popular. As of 2022, there were around 33 million vehicles across the US that relied on alternative fuels, with the number of electric vehicles on the road growing by 135% between 2020 and 2022.
Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air, emitting only water vapor as a byproduct. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (HFCVs) use the same kind of electric motor as battery-electric cars, but they are powered by a fuel-cell stack rather than a large, heavy battery. HFCVs are technically series hybrids and are sometimes classified as fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEVs).
As of 2021, there were two hydrogen cars publicly available in select markets: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. The Honda Clarity was produced from 2016 to 2021. By mid-2022, there were 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, all of them in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fueling stations. In 2023, 3,143 hydrogen cars were sold in the US, compared to 380,000 battery-electric vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
Gasoline is the most common fuel for cars in the US. In 2022, Americans used about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline.
Alternative fuels include electricity, biodiesel, ethanol, propane, natural gas, and hydrogen. In 2021, biofuels consumption accounted for about 5% of total US transportation sector energy consumption.
Alternative fuels provide options for consumers to drive vehicles that emit significantly decreased levels of air pollution. Electric vehicles, for example, do not emit dangerous air pollutants.
Gasoline is a type of fuel that is derived from crude oil. It is used to power various types of vehicles, especially passenger vehicles.
