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

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #175: July 23, 2001
Electricity Chosen over Ethanol and Hydrogen

According to an Opinion Research Corporation International (ORCI) survey, more than half (52%) of the adult American population chose electricity over ethanol and hydrogen as the best fuel to use in personal vehicles when gasoline is no longer available (ORCI for NREL, Study #709489, December 1-4, 2000, N = 1,024).

Americans chose electricity because of environmental concerns (29%) such as electricity being cleaner and less polluting, its availability (22%), existing/ developing technology to produce electricity (17%), and economy and affordability (11%).

Graph showing the reasons Americans chose electricity over ethanol and hydrogen

Supporting Information

Electricity Chosen over Ethanol and Hydrogen
Reason Percent of Respondents
Environmental concerns 29%
Availability 22%
Technology to produce electricity 17%
Economical/affordable 11%

Source: ORCI for NREL, Study #709489, December 1-4, 2000, N = 1,024

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