EIA: CNG, propane dominate U.S. alternate-fueled fleet

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates more than 385,000 on-road vehicles in the U.S. will be powered by fuels other than gasoline and diesel in 1997. About 70% of the alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) will operate on propane, while 20% will use natural gas. The remaining AFVs will be alcohol-fueled or electric vehicles. EIA's estimates of AFVs in use at yearend 1995 and 1996 are lower than its estimates published a year ago because of slower than expected growth in compressed

Jan. 20, 1997

2 min read

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates more than 385,000 on-road vehicles in the U.S. will be powered by fuels other than gasoline and diesel in 1997.

About 70% of the alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) will operate on propane, while 20% will use natural gas. The remaining AFVs will be alcohol-fueled or electric vehicles.

EIA's estimates of AFVs in use at yearend 1995 and 1996 are lower than its estimates published a year ago because of slower than expected growth in compressed natural gas (CNG) and propane vehicles.

California and Texas led the nation in 1995 with 52,000 and 32,000 AFVs, respectively. Nationwide, there were about 330,000 AFVs in service during 1995, or about 0.2% of the total number of light-duty motor vehicles in use.

Results from EIA's second survey of the AFV industry indicate that in 1995, nearly another 18,000 on-road AFVs were completed and made ready for delivery to dealers or users ("made available").

NGVs gaining ground

About half of the AFVs made available in 1995 were natural gas vehicles, one-third operated on propane, and the remainder were alcohol and electric vehicles.

The single largest category of AFV made available in 1995 was the compressed natural gas pickup truck and cargo van.

The estimate of made-available off-road AFVs increased from about 34,000 in 1994 to 81,000 in 1995, largely due to improved survey coverage.

EIA estimates that in 1997, alternative and replacement fuels (including oxygenates added to gasoline) will account for 2.7% of the fuel used by on-road vehicles (on a gasoline-equivalent gallon basis), up from 1.6% in 1992.

This year, consumption of alternate and replacement fuels is expected to increase about 5%, to 4 billion gasoline equivalent gallons (a measure that allows cross-fuel comparisons based on their energy content) from 1995.

Consumption is growing at a slower pace than previously estimated, as more states and cities than anticipated opt out of oxygenate/reformulated gasoline programs.