U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Program
Fact #340: October 4, 2004
Hydrogen Fuel as a Replacement for Gasoline
The following question was asked in a random survey in 2000 and again in 2004. The same survey also asked which of those three choices is the worst fuel for use in personal vehicles and asked the respondents for the reasoning behind their selections. Below are the reasons respondents gave for choosing hydrogen fuel as the best or worst choice for replacing gasoline.
"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?"
Reasons for Choosing Hydrogen as the BEST Fuel to Replace Gasoline 
Reasons for Choosing Hydrogen as the WORST Fuel to Replace Gasoline 
Supporting Information
| Hydrogen Is Best Replacement |
2000 |
2004 |
| Availability/abundance |
36% |
37% |
| Cleaner |
24% |
27% |
| Economical |
16% |
12% |
| Derived from water |
8% |
14% |
| Others not practical |
6% |
11% |
| Existing/developing technology |
6% |
7% |
| |
|
|
| Hydrogen Is Worst Replacement |
2000 |
2004 |
| Safety concerns |
50% |
40% |
| Not enough known |
4% |
7% |
| Too expensive |
3% |
6% |
| Other choices are better |
0 |
4% |
| Environmental concerns |
8% |
4% |
| Difficult to produce |
4% |
4% |
|
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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