U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #338: September 20, 2004
What Will Be Used When Gasoline Is Not Available?

Public opinion surveys from December 2000 and August 2004 posed this question:

"Consider a future date when gasoline is no longer available. Which of the following do you think would be the best fuel for use in personal vehicles: electricity, ethanol, or hydrogen?"

Respondents to both surveys chose electricity more often than any other fuel type. The share of respondents choosing hydrogen as the best fuel increased from 15% in 2000 to 28% in 2004.

Best Fuel to Replace Gasoline When Gasoline Is No Longer Available
Response to a public opinion survey asking what fuel would be best if gasoline was no longer available in the future.

Supporting Information

Best Fuel to Replace Gasoline
  December 2000 August 2004
  Share of Respondents
Electricity 52% 41%
Ethanol 21% 19%
Hydrogen 15% 28%
Don't know 12% 13%

Source: Opinion Research Corporation for National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Study #709489 (N = 1,000), December 1, 2000, and Study #713359 (N = 1,041), August 27, 2004.

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