U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
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 
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. |
Return to 2004 Facts of the Week
|