Alternative Fuels Data Center

Fuel Properties Comparison

Compressed
Low Sulfur Renewable Liquefied Natural
Gasoline/E10 Biodiesel Propane (LPG) Natural Gas Ethanol/E100 Methanol Hydrogen Electricity
Diesel Diesel Gas (LNG)
(CNG)

Chemical C4 to C12 and C8 to C25 Methyl esters of C8 to C25 C3H8 (majority) CH4 (majority) CH4 same as CNG CH3CH2OH CH3OH H2 N/A
Structure [1] Ethanol ≤ to C12 to C22 fatty and C4H10 , C2H6 and with inert gasses
10% acids (minority) inert gases <0.5% (a)

Fuel Material Crude Oil Crude Oil Fats and oils Fats, oils, A by-product of Underground Underground Corn, grains, or Natural gas, coal, Natural gas, Natural gas,
(feedstocks) from sources and greases petroleum reserves and reserves and agricultural waste or woody biomass methanol, and coal, nuclear,
such as (including refining or renewable renewable biogas (cellulose) electrolysis of wind, hydro,
soybeans, waste used natural gas biogas water solar, and small
cooking oil, cooking oil) processing percentages of
animal fats, and geothermal
rapeseed and biomass

Gasoline or 1 gal = 1.00 1 gal = 1.12 B100 RD 100 1 gal = 0.74 1 lb. = 0.18 1 lb. = 0.19 GGE 1 gal = 0.67 GGE 1 gal = 0.50 GGE 1 lb. = 0.45 1 kWh = 0.030
Diesel Gallon GGE GGE 1 gal = 1.05 GGE 1 gal = 1.08 GGE GGE 1 lb. = 0.17 DGE 1 gal = 0.59 DGE 1 gal = 0.45 DGE GGE GGE
Equivalent 1 gal = 0.88 1 gal = 1.00 1 gal = 0.93 DGE GGE 1 gal = 0.66 1 lb. = 0.16 1 lb. = 0.40 1 kWh = 0.027
(GGE or DGE) DGE DGE 1 gal = 0.96 DGE DGE DGE DGE
B20 DGE
1 gal = 1.11 GGE 1 kg = 1 GGE
1 gal = 0.99 DGE 1 kg = 0.9 DGE

Energy 1 gallon of 1 gallon of 1 gallon of B100 1 gallon of 1 gallon of 5.66 lb., or 5.37 lb. of LNG has 1 gallon of E85 1 gallon of 2.2 lbs. (1 kg) A typical
Comparison gasoline has diesel has has 93% of the RD100 has propane has 123.57 ft3, of the same energy as contains 73%– methanol of H2 has the battery that is
[2] 97%–100% of 113% of the energy in 1 DGE, 96% of the 73% of the CNG has the 1 GGE, and 6.06 lb. 83% of the energy contains 50% of same energy as the same size
the energy in 1 energy in 1 and 1 gallon of energy of 1 energy in 1 same energy of LNG has the in 1 GGE. 1 gallon the energy as 1 GGE. as a gallon of
GGE. Standard GGE due to the B20 has 99% of DGE due to GGE due to the as 1 GGE, and same energy as of E100 has 67% 1 GGE. gas (0.134 ft3),
fuel is 90% higher energy the energy in 1 slightly lower energy 6.37 lb., or 1 DGE. (a) of the energy in 1 when used for
gasoline, 10% density of DGE due to a lower density of 139.30 ft3, of GGE. Ethanol is transportation,
ethanol. diesel fuel. lower energy energy propane. CNG has the blended with can store
density in density in same energy blendstock for 15.3% of the
biodiesel. renewable as 1 DGE. oxygenate energy in
diesel. [3][4](b) blending (gasoline 1 GGE. [6][7]
component). [5]

Energy 112,114– 128,488 B100 123,710 84,250 Btu/gal 20,160 Btu/lb 21,240 Btu/lb (a) 76,330 Btu/gal for 57,250 Btu/gal (c) 51,585 Btu/lb 3,414 Btu/kWh
Content 116,090 Btu/gal (c) 119,550 Btu/gal Btu/gal (c) [3](b) E100 (c) (c)
(lower heating Btu/gal (c)
value) B20 33.3 kWh/kg
126,700 Btu/gal
(c)
 Alternative Fuels Data Center
Fuel Properties Comparison
Compressed
Low Sulfur Renewable Liquefied Natural
Gasoline/E10 Biodiesel Propane (LPG) Natural Gas Ethanol/E100 Methanol Hydrogen Electricity
Diesel Diesel Gas (LNG)
(CNG)

Energy 120,388– 138,490 127,960 Btu/gal N/A 91,420 Btu/gal 22,453 Btu/lb 23,726 Btu/lb (c) 84,530 Btu/gal for 65,200 Btu/gal (c) 61,013 Btu/lb 3,414 Btu/kWh
Content 124,340 Btu/gal (c) for B100 (c) (c) [1](c) E100 (c) (c)
(higher Btu/gal (c)
heating value)

Physical State Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Pressurized Compressed Cryogenic liquid Liquid Liquid Compressed Electricity
liquid (heavier gas (lighter (lighter than air as gas (lighter
than air as a than air) a gas) than air) or
gas) liquid

Cetane N/A 40–55 (d) 45–65 (d) 70–85 N/A N/A N/A 0–54 (e) N/A N/A N/A
Number

Pump Octane 84–93 (f) N/A N/A N/A 105 (g) 120+ (h) 120+ (h) 110 (i) 112 (i) 130+ (g) N/A
Number

Flash Point -45°F (j) 165°F (j) 266° to 338°F (d) >125.6°F -100° to -150°F -300°F (j) -306°F (k) 55°F (j) 52°F (j) N/A N/A
(j)

Autoignition 495°F (j) ~600°F (j) N/A N/A 850° to 950°F 1,004°F (j) 1,004°F (k) 793°F (j) 897°F (j) 1,050° to N/A
Temperature (j) 1,080°F (j)

Maintenance Lubricity is Requires High-pressure LNG is stored in Special lubricants Special lubricants When
Issues improved over lubricity tanks require cryogenic tanks may be required. must be used as hydrogen is
that of additive, like periodic with a specific hold Practices are very directed by the used in fuel cell
conventional low ultra-low- inspection time before the similar, if not supplier as well as applications,
sulfur diesel fuel. sulfur diesel and pressure build is identical, to those M85-compatible maintenance
For more certification. relieved. The for conventionally replacement should be very
maintenance vehicle should be fueled operations. parts. Can cause minimal. High-
information, see operated on a serious damage to pressure tanks
the Biodiesel schedule to organs in the require
Handling and maintain a lower body if periodic
Use Guidelines— pressure in the swallowed, inspection and
Sixth Edition. (d) tank. breathed in, or certification.
gotten on skin.

Energy Manufactured Manufactured Biodiesel is Renewable Approximately CNG is LNG is domestically Ethanol is Methanol is Hydrogen is Electricity is
Security using oil. using oil. domestically diesel is half of U.S. LPG domestically produced from domestically domestically domestically domestically
Impacts Transportation Transportation produced, domestically is derived from produced natural gas and produced. E85 produced, produced and produced from
accounts for accounts for renewable, and produced, oil, but no oil is from natural renewable biogas. reduces lifecycle sometimes from can be a wide range of
approximately approximately reduces renewable, imported gas and The United States petroleum use by renewable produced from sources,
30% of total 30% of total petroleum use and reduces specifically for renewable 70%, and E10 resources. including
 Alternative Fuels Data Center
Fuel Properties Comparison
Compressed
Low Sulfur Renewable Liquefied Natural
Gasoline/E10 Biodiesel Propane (LPG) Natural Gas Ethanol/E100 Methanol Hydrogen Electricity
Diesel Diesel Gas (LNG)
(CNG)

U.S. energy U.S. energy 95% throughout petroleum LPG biogas. The has vast natural gas reduces renewable through coal-
needs and 70% needs and 70% its lifecycle. (m) use 95% production. United States reserves. petroleum use by sources. fired power
of petroleum of petroleum throughout has vast 6.3%. (n) plants and
consumption. consumption. its lifecycle. natural gas renewable
(l) (l) reserves. sources,
making it a
versatile fuel.

Notes
[1] Standard chemical formulas represent idealized fuels. Some table values are expressed in ranges to represent typical fuel variations that are encountered in the field.
[2] GGE table values reflect Btu range for common gasoline baseline references (E0, E10, and indolene certification fuel).
[3] The type of meter or dispensing equipment being used to fuel vehicles must be taken into consideration. For fast-fill stations that dispense CNG with Coriolis flow meters, which measure fuel mass and
report fuel dispensed on a GGE basis, the lbs./GGE factor should be used. For time-fill stations or other applications that use traditional residential and commercial gas meters that measure/register in units of
cubic feet, the CF/GGE factor should be used.
[4] See Compressed Natural Gas Gasoline & Diesel Gallon Equivalency Methodology at http://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/equivalency_methodology.html.
[5] E85 is a high-level gasoline-ethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on geography and season. Ethanol content is lower in the winter months in cold climates to ensure a vehicle starts.
Based on composition, E85's lower heating value varies from 83,950 to 95,450 Btu/gal.
[6] Lithium-ion battery density of 400 Wh/l from Linden and Reddy, Handbook of Batteries, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 2002.
[7] Lithium-ion energy densities increased by a factor of 3.4, when used for transportation, to account for the increased efficiencies of electric vehicle drivetrains relative to the internal combustion engine.

Sources
(a) NIST Handbook 44 – Mass Flow Meters Appendix E https://www.nist.gov/file/323701
(b) Report of the 78th National Conference on Weights and Measures, 1993, NIST Special Publication 854, pp 322–326. https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nistspecialpublication854.pdf
(c) Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model. 2023. Input Fuel Specifications. Argonne National Laboratory. Chicago, IL. https://greet.es.anl.gov/
(d) R. McCormick and K. Moriarty, Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines—Sixth Edition, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), 2023.
https://afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/biodiesel_handling_use_guide.pdf
(e) American Petroleum Institute (API), Alcohols and Ethers, Publication No. 4261, 3rd ed. (Washington, DC, June 2001), Table 2.
(f) Petroleum Product Surveys: Motor Gasoline, Summer 1986, Winter 1986/1987. National Institute for Petroleum and Energy Research.
(g) American Petroleum Institute (API), Alcohols and Ethers, Publication No. 4261, 3rd ed. (Washington, DC, June 2001), Table B-1.
(h) K. Owen and T. Coley. 1995. Automotive Fuels Reference Book: Second Edition. Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. Warrendale, PA. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/160564-automotive-fuels-reference-
book-second-edition
(i) J. Heywood. 1988. Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals. McGraw-Hill Inc. New York.
(j) Methanol Institute. Physical Properties of Pure Methanol. Accessed 3/14/2024 at https://www.methanol.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Physical-Properties-of-Pure-Methanol.pdf
(k) Foss, Michelle. 2012. LNG Safety and Security. Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences. University of Texas at Austin.
(l) Energy Information Administration. "Use of Energy Explained: Energy use for transportation." https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/transportation.php
(m) J. Sheehan, V. Camobreco, J. Duffield, M. Graboski, and H. Shapouri. 1998. An Overview of Biodiesel and Petroleum Diesel Life Cycles. NREL and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). NREL/TP-580-24772.
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy98/24772.pdf
(n) M. Wang. 2005. Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impacts of Fuel Ethanol. Presentation to the NGCA Renewable Fuels Forum. Argonne National Laboratory. Chicago, IL.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228787542_Energy_and_greenhouse_gas_emissions_impacts_of_fuel_ethanol

March 2024 • DOE/GO-102024-6212