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Frequently Asked Questions
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Alternative Fuels Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)This document presents answers to questions about alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and alternative transportation fuels that are often asked of the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Some of the questions concern EIA data while others relate to more general alternative fuel topics. Disclaimer: Referrals to sources that do not originate in EIA are provided for the reader's convenience. EIA does not take responsibility for verifying the quality of non-EIA information sources, although attempts have been made to refer to reliable sources. Question 1: What is the most recent year for which EIA data on AFVs and alternative fuel usage are available? Question 2: What is the difference between AFV estimates and AFV survey data? Question 3: What long-term forecasts does EIA have regarding alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuel consumption? Question 4: Where can I find information on AFVs being used in my city, county, or State? Question 5: Where can I find EIA's data on ethanol production, stocks, and imports? Question 6: How are E85 flexible-fueled vehicles treated in EIA's data? Why is there a discrepancy between the E85 data in Table 1 and Table 14? Question 7: Are hybrid electric vehicles included in EIA's data? Question 8: Where can I find information on alternative fuel refueling facilities? Question 9: Where can I find alternative fuel prices, as well as prices for gasoline and diesel fuel? Question 10: Where can I find information about funding of alternative fuel projects, grants and tax incentives? Question 11: Where can I find data and information about all U.S. vehicles? For example, how many traditional fueled vehicles are registered in the U.S and what is the average fuel efficiency of U.S. vehicles? Where can I find information on the characteristics of fleet vehicles? Question 12: How do I convert alternative fuel consumption to gasoline-equivalent gallons (g-e-g's)? Question 13: Where can I find the chemical properties of alternative fuels, such as molecular weight, density, flash point, RVP, heating value, and others? Question 14: Where can I find information on fuel cells? Question 15: Where can I find information on hydrogen and hydrogen vehicles? Question 1: What is the most recent year for which EIA data on AFVs and alternative fuel usage are available? Answer: Estimates of AFVs in use are provided for the time periods of 1993-2002 in Tables 1-9 of Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels 2000. These data were released in September 2002. Estimates of alternative fuel consumption are also available for the time period of 1993-2002 in Tables 10-13. These data were released in September 2002. Survey-based data for AFVs made available in 2002 and AFVs planned to be made available in 2003 were released in October 2003 in Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels 2002. Survey-based data for AFVs in use by selected user classes in 2002 are provided in Tables 21-35. The selected user classes for which data are available are: Federal Government, State Government, fuel providers, and bus operators. These data were released in October 2003. All tables are updated annually unless otherwise specified. Question 2: What is the difference between AFV estimates and AFV survey data? Answer: EIA uses two methodologies to account for alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuel usage; (1) industry wide estimates and (2) a fielded survey. Section 503(b) (2) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 directed EIA to provide data on the number, type, and location of all alternative fuel vehicles in use in the United States and the amount of alternative fuel consumed. Since 1995, EIA has published annual estimates of total AFVs in use in Tables 1-9 of Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels. Estimates of alternative fuel consumption have been published in Tables 10-13. Estimation methods vary by vehicle ownership category (Federal government, State and local government or private) and by fuel type. The best estimates for each vehicle category were made after an extensive search of available data sources (e.g., State energy offices, web sites of various AFV stakeholders, industry groups, trade associations). Estimation methods are described in Appendix A of Altrenatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels 1996. The Alternative Transportation Fuels and Alternative Fueled Vehicles Survey (Form EIA-886) was implemented in 1995. The EIA-886 survey is conducted annually and collects data on AFVs supplied, or made available, in the previous year and AFVs planned to be made available in the survey year. The survey collects data from all AFV suppliers, i.e. original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and vehicle converters. Alternative Fuel Vehicles Made Available are published in Tables 14–20 of Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels. In 1998, the EIA-886 survey was expanded to include selected users of AFVs. The user portion of the survey collects data on the number, type, and location of AFVs operated by Federal fleets, State fleets, fuel provider fleets, and transit agency fleets. Collecting data directly from vehicle users has enabled EIA to obtain a larger quantity of data and data that are more accurate for the selected user segments. EIA publishes data for the selected groups in Tables 21-35 and also uses the survey data to provide more accurate source information for the estimates of total AFVs. Question 3: What long-term forecasts does EIA have regarding alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuel consumption? Answer: Supplement Tables: Data relevant to alternative fuels are found in supplemental Tables 34-51 of EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2003. Projections include vehicle sales and fuel consumption from 2003 through 2025. Index to ATF forecasting: Links to the sections of EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2003 that pertain to alternative fuel vehicle sales and alternative fuel consumption. Contacts: Lists analysts responsible for transportation demand forecasts. Any questions regarding the long-term forecast for alternative fuels should be addressed to these analysts. Question 4: Where can I find information on AFVs being used in my city, county, or State? Answer: Table 3: EIA estimates of the number of alternative fuel vehicles in use, by State, from 2000 to 2002. Table 4: EIA estimates of the number of alternative fuel vehicles in use, by fuel type and State, for the year 2000. Clean Cities Coalitions: Links to the 85 Clean Cities coalitions across the United States. The Clean Cities program is sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE) and comprised of coalitions of local stakeholders. The program supports public-private partnerships that deploy alternative fuel vehicles and build supporting alternative fuel infrastructures. Question 5: Where can I find EIA’s data on ethanol production, stocks, and imports? Answer: Production and Stocks: Access to current and historical data from EIA’s “Monthly Oxygenate Telephone Report” (EIA-819M), including ethanol production and stocks for five geographic regions in the U.S. Imports: Imports data that are collected via EIA’s “Monthly Imports Report” (EIA-814), and published in the Petroleum Supply Monthly. Question 6: How are E85 flexible-fueled vehicles treated in EIA's data? Why is there a discrepancy between the E85 data in Table 1 and Table 14? Answer: EIA's estimates of alternative fuel vehicles in use, as shown in Table 1, include only those vehicles intended for use as AFVs, primarily fleet-operated vehicles. Many of the flexible-fueled E85 vehicles, especially those owned by private individuals, are excluded because they are sold and used as traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. For 2000, the EIA estimated that in total there were 2,652,592 E85 vehicles in use. However, only 58,621 of those were operated by fleets and included in Table 1. On the other hand, Table 14, Summary of Onroad Alternative Fuel and Gasoline- Electric Hybrid Vehicles Made Available by Weight Class, Fuel Type and Configuration, does reflect all AFVs made available, including all vehicles capable of running on E85 and/or gasoline. Vehicles made available are those that were produced in a given year. They do not include vehicles made in previous years that are still in use. Thus, differences in data type and exclusions of certain vehicles account for the E85 count differences between Table 1 and Table 14. Question 7: Are hybrid electric vehicles included in EIA's data? Answer: EIA's estimates of alternative fuel vehicles in use (Tables 1-9 of EIA's AFV tables) reflect only hybrid vehicles that run on a combination of electricity and one of the designated alternative fuels (e.g., a propane hybrid). They do not include hybrid electric vehicles that run on a combination of electricity and gasoline or diesel fuel because the Department of Energy has ruled that those do not qualify as "alternative fuel vehicles." However, due to the interest of our data users, EIA does include gasoline and diesel hybrids in the "vehicles made available" data that appear in Tables 14-20. Question 8: Where can I find information on alternative fuel refueling facilities? Answer: AFDC Refueling Sites: A searchable database of refueling stations in the U.S. maintained by DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center. Maps and station details are available. Counts of Alternative Fuel Stations: Table of alternative fuel station counts by State and fuel type, from DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center. California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition Station Locator: Lists and maps of natural gas fueling stations in CA, NV and AZ. CA Clean Car Maps: A searchable database, maintained by WestStart, containing alternative fuel refueling stations in California. Guide to Alternative-Fuel Vehicle Fueling Stations in New York State: Listing from NY State Energy Research and Development Authority of compressed natural gas (CNG) and propane fueling stations in New York. E-85 Refueling Locations: The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition provides maps and addresses for E85 sites throughout the U.S. Question 9: Where can I find alternative fuel prices, as well as prices for gasoline and diesel fuel? Answer: Neither EIA nor other DOE offices track retail prices of alternative transportation fuels. EIA does provide data on intermediate prices of some of the alternative fuels. These prices do not include the costs of transportation or preparation of fuels exclusively for vehicle use. Nor do they include any applicable taxes. U.S. Natural Gas Prices: EIA data for wellhead, city gate and sector prices. These data do not include the cost of compressing or liquefying natural gas for vehicle use. Propane: EIA spot and wholesale prices for propane. Electricity: EIA published wholesale and futures prices for electricity. Gasoline: EIA weekly retail gasoline prices. Diesel: EIA weekly on-highway diesel prices. Question 10: Where can I find information about funding of alternative fuel projects, grants and tax incentives? Answer: The EIA is a statistical agency and does not provide funding for research and development activities. However, information is available from other sources. Support and Funding: Information about specific funding sources for alternative fuels and advice for obtaining funding, from DOE's Clean Cities Program. Funding Opportunities: Information from DOE's Office of Transportation Technology about funding resources, solicitations, and incentives related to alternative and advanced fuel and vehicle technologies. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program: Details of the Department of Transportation's program that provides funds for projects that reduce air pollution from transportation-related sources. Question 11: Where can I find data and information about all U.S. vehicles? For example, how many traditional fueled vehicles are registered in the U.S and what is the average fuel efficiency of U.S. vehicles? Where can I find information on the characteristics of fleet vehicles? Answer: Transportation Energy Databook: Prepared by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, this is a good source of data for the total transportation sector in the United States Individual chapters highlight different topics. Chapter 6. Highway Vehicles and Characteristics: Data and information for all vehicles by type, including data on U.S. vehicle registrations, sales, and scrappage rates. Chapter 7. Light Vehicles and Characteristics: Data and information, including fuel economy data, for autos and light trucks. Chapter 8. Heavy Vehicle Characteristics: Data and information for buses and heavy trucks. Chapter 10. Fleet Vehicles and Characteristics: Data and information for vehicles operated by fleets. Chapter 2. Energy: Includes highway energy consumption data. Question 12: How do I convert alternative fuel consumption to gasoline-equivalent gallons (g-e-g's)? Answer: To compute fuel consumption in terms of g-e-g's, divide the heating value of the alternative fuel (Btu per native unit of fuel) by the heating value of gasoline. Then, multiply this result by the alternative fuel consumption value. For example, to convert 100 gallons of ethanol to g-e-g's, multiply 0.661 (i.e., 76000/115000) by 100. EIA uses adjusted lower heating values to develop the conversion factors used in Table 10. The adjusted heating values can be found in Table A2 of Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels 1996. Question 13: Where can I find the chemical properties of alternative fuels, such as molecular weight, density, flash point, RVP, heating value, and others? Answer:: See Table 22 of "Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels, An Overview" for an EIA published list of properties for propane, CNG, methanol, ethanol, and hydrogen, as well as gasoline and diesel fuel. Question 14: Where can I find information on fuel cells? Answer: Fuel Cells: Fuel cell basics and other related information from DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Learn About Fuel Cells: Background information provided by the California Fuel Cell Partnership, including many links to other fuel cell sites. Fuel Cells 2000: Comprehensive information sponsored by Breakthrough Technologies Institute. American Methanol Institute: Information about methanol fuel cells and an extensive list of related fuel cell links. Question 15: Where can I find information on hydrogen and hydrogen vehicles? Answer: Table 14-20, Alternative-Fueled Vehicles Made Available: The only hydrogen vehicle data currently available from EIA, these data were reported on the EIA-886 survey. Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program: General information about the use of hydrogen for vehicles, from DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. This site includes a hydrogen basics section and hydrogen fact sheets for elementary and secondary students. National Hydrogen Association: Overall coverage of the hydrogen industry.
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