Alternative	Fuels	Data	Center	– Fuel	Properties	Comparison	

www.afdc.energy.gov 																																																																																							1 												10/29/2014

Gasoline/E10 Low	Sulfur	

Diesel Biodiesel Propane	(LPG)

Compressed	

Natural	Gas	

(CNG)

Liquefied	

Natural	Gas	

(LNG)

Ethanol/E100 Methanol Hydrogen Electricity

Chemical	

Structure [1]

C4 to C12 and	

Ethanol	≤ 10%

C8 to	C25 Methyl	esters	

of	C12 to	C22

fatty	acids

C3H8 (majority)	

and	C4H10	

(minority)

CH4 (majority),

C2H6 and inert	

gases

CH4			same as	

CNG	with	

inert	gasses	

<0.5%	(r)

CH3CH2OH CH3OH H2 N/A

Fuel	Material	

(feedstocks)

Crude	Oil Crude	Oil Fats	and	oils	

from	sources	

such	as	soy	

beans,	waste	

cooking	oil,	

animal	fats,	

and	rapeseed

A	by-product	

of	petroleum	

refining	or	

natural	gas	

processing

Underground	

reserves and	

renewable	

biogas

Underground	

reserves and	

renewable	

biogas

Corn,	grains,	or	

agricultural	

waste	

(cellulose)

Natural	gas,	

coal,	or,	

woody	

biomass

Natural	gas,	

methanol,	

and	

electrolysis	of	

water

Coal,	nuclear,	

natural	gas,	

hydroelectric,	

and	small	

percentages	

of	wind	and	

solar

Gasoline	

Gallon	

Equivalent [4]

97%	- 100% 1	gallon	of	

diesel	has	

113%	of	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

gasoline.

B100	has	103%	

of	the	energy	

in	one	gallon	of	

gasoline	or	

93%	of	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

diesel.	B20	has	

109%	of	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

gasoline	or	

99%	of	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

diesel.

1	gallon	of	

propane	has	

73%	of	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

gasoline.

5.66	pounds	or	

123.57 cu	ft.	of	

CNG	has	100%	

of	the	energy	

of	one	gallon	

of	gasoline.	

[2][5](q)

6.38	pounds	or	

139.30 cu ft.	of	

CNG	has	100%	

of	the	energy	

content	of	one	

gallon	of	diesel

[2][5](q)

5.38	pounds	

of	LNG	has	

100%	of	one	

gallon	of	

gasoline	and	

6.06	pounds	

of	LNG	has	

100%	of	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

diesel	(r)

1	gallon	of	E85	

has	73%	to	

83%	of	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

gasoline	

(variation	due	

to	ethanol	

content	in	

E85).	1	gallon	

of	E10	has	

96.7%	if	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

gasoline.	[3]

1	gallon	of	

methanol	has	

49%	of	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

gasoline.

1	kg	or	2.198	

lbs.	of	H2 has	

100%	of	the	

energy	of	one	

gallon	of	

gasoline.	

33.70	kWh	

has	100%	of	

the	energy	of	

one	gallon	of	

gasoline.

Energy	

Content	

(Lower	

heating	

value)

112,114	-

116,090	

Btu/gal	(g)

128,488

Btu/gal	(g)

119,550	

Btu/gal	for	

B100	(g)

84,250	Btu/gal	

(g)

20,160 Btu/lb	

[2](q)

21,240 Btu/lb

(r)

76,330	Btu/gal	

for	E100	(g)

57,250	

Btu/gal	(g)

51,585	Btu/lb	

(g)	

3,414	

Btu/kWh
Alternative	Fuels	Data	Center	– Fuel	Properties	Comparison	

www.afdc.energy.gov 																																																																																							2 												10/29/2014

Gasoline/E10 Low	Sulfur	

Diesel Biodiesel Propane	(LPG)

Compressed	

Natural	Gas	

(CNG)

Liquefied	

Natural	Gas	

(LNG)

Ethanol/E100 Methanol Hydrogen Electricity

Energy	

Content	

(Higher	

heating	

value)

120,388	-

124,340	

Btu/gal	(g)

138,490

Btu/gal	(g)

127,960	

Btu/gal	for	

B100	(g)

91,420		Btu/gal	

(g)

22,453Btu/lb	

[1](g)

23,726		Btu/lb

(g)

84,530	Btu/gal	

for	E100	(g)

65,200		

Btu/gal	(g)

61,013	Btu/lb	

(g)	

3,414	

Btu/kWh

Physical	State Liquid Liquid Liquid Pressurized	

Liquid

Compressed	

Gas

Cryogenic	

Liquid

Liquid Liquid Compressed	

Gas	or	Liquid

Electricity

Cetane	

Number

N/A 40-55	(a) 48-65	(a) N/A N/A N/A 0-54	(b) N/A N/A N/A

Pump	Octane

Number

84-93	(c) N/A N/A 105	(f) 120+	(d) 120+	(d) 110	(e) 112	(e) 130+	(f) N/A

Flash	Point -45	°F (o) 165	°F (o) 212	to	338	°F

(a)

-100	to	-150	°F

(o)

-300	°F (o) -306	°F (p) 55	°F (o) 52	°F (o) N/A N/A

Autoignition	

Temperature

495	°F (o) ~600	°F (o) ~300		°F (a) 850	to	950	°F

(o)

1,004	°F (o) 1,004	°F (p) 793	°F (o) 897	°F (o) 1,050	to	

1,080	°F (o)

N/A

Maintenance	

Issues

Hoses	and	

seals	may	be	

affected	by	

higher-percent	

blend.	Lubricity	

is	improved	

over	that	of	

conventional	

diesel	fuel.

High-pressure	

tanks	require	

periodic	

inspection	and	

certification.

LNG	is	stored	

in	cryogenic	

tanks	with	a	

specific	hold	

time	before	

the	pressure	

build	is	

relieved,	the	

vehicle	

should	be	

operated	on	a	

schedule	to	

maintain	a	

lower	

pressure	in	

the	tank.

Special	

lubricants	may	

be	required.		

Practices	are	

very	similar,	if	

not	identical,	

to	those	for	

conventionally	

fueled	

operations.

Special	

lubricants	

must	be	used	

as	directed	by	

the	supplier	

and	M-85-

compatible	

replacement	

parts	must	be	

used.

When	

hydrogen is	

used	in	fuel	

cell	

applications,	

maintenance	

should	be	

very	minimal.

High-pressure	

tanks	require	

periodic	

inspection	

and	

certification.

It	is	likely	that	

the	battery	

will	need	

replacement	

before	the	

vehicle	is	

retired.
Alternative	Fuels	Data	Center	– Fuel	Properties	Comparison	

www.afdc.energy.gov 																																																																																							3 												10/29/2014

Gasoline/E10 Low	Sulfur	

Diesel Biodiesel Propane	(LPG)

Compressed	

Natural	Gas	

(CNG)

Liquefied	

Natural	Gas	

(LNG)

Ethanol/E100 Methanol Hydrogen Electricity

Energy	

Security	

Impacts

Manufactured	

using	oil,	of	

which	nearly	

1/2 is	imported	

(n).

Manufactured	

using	oil,	of	

which	nearly	

1/2 is	imported	

(n).

Biodiesel	is	

domestically	

produced,	

renewable,	

and	reduces	

petroleum	use	

95%	

throughout	its	

lifecycle	(i).

Approximately	

half	of	the	LPG	

in	the	U.S.	is	

derived	from	

oil,	but	no	oil	is	

imported	

specifically	for	

LPG	

production.

CNG	is	

domestically	

produced from	

natural	gas	and	

renewable	

biogas.		The	

United	States	

has	vast	

natural	gas	

reserves.

LNG	is	

domestically	

produced

from	natural	

gas	and	

renewable	

biogas.

Ethanol	is	

produced	

domestically.	

E85 reduces	

lifecycle	

petroleum	use	

by	70%	and	

E10	reduces	

petroleum	use	

by	6.3%	(l).

Methanol	is	

domestically	

produced,	

sometimes	

from	

renewable	

resources.

Hydrogen	is	

produced	

domestically	

and	can	be	

produced	

from	

renewable	

sources.

Electricity	is	

generated

mainly	

through	coal

fired	power	

plants.	Coal	is	

the	United	

States’ most	

plentiful	and	

price-stable	

fossil	energy	

resource.

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] 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	"gallon	of	gasoline-equivalent"	(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.

[3] E85	is	a	high-level	gasoline-ethanol	blend	containing	51%	to	83%	ethanol,	depending	on	geography	and	season.	Ethanol	content	is	lower	in	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.	This equates to	73%	to	83%	the	heat	content	of	gasoline.

[4]	GGE	table	values	reflect	BTU	range	for	common	gasoline	baseline	references	(E0,	E10,	and	indolene	certification	fuel)

[5] See	Compressed	Natural	Gas	Gasoline	&	Diesel	Gallon	Equivalency	Methodology	at	http://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/equivalency_methodology.html

Sources

(a) R.L.	McCormick.	Biodiesel	Handling	and	Use	Guidelines—Fourth	Edition,	National	Renewable	Energy	Laboratory,	2009.

(b) American	Petroleum	Institute	(API),	Alcohols	and	Ethers,	Publication	No.	4261,	3rd	ed.	(Washington,	DC,	June	2001),	Table	2.

(c) Petroleum	Product	Surveys:	Motor	Gasoline,	Summer	1986,	Winter	1986/1987.	National	Institute	for	Petroleum	and	Energy	Research.

(d) K.	Owen	and	T.	Coley.	1995.	Automotive	Fuels	Reference	Book:	Second	Edition.	Society	of	Automotive	Engineers,	Inc.	Warrendale,	PA.

(e) J.	Heywood.	1988.	Internal	Combustion	Engine	Fundamentals.	McGraw-Hill	Inc.	New	York.

(f) American	Petroleum	Institute	(API),	Alcohols	and	Ethers,	Publication	No.	4261,	3rd	ed.	(Washington,	DC,	June	2001),	Table	B-1.

(g) Greenhouse	Gases,	Regulated	Emissions,	and	Energy	Use	in	Transportation	(GREET)	Model,	version	1.	2013.	Input	Fuel	Specifications.	Argonne	National	Laboratory.	Chicago,	IL.

(h) The	National	Biodiesel	Board	website	reports	that	"most	major	engine	companies	have	stated	formally	that	the	use	of	blends	up	to	B20	will	not	void	their	parts	and	workmanship	warranties."	Accessed	

11/15/12	at	http://www.biodiesel.org/using-biodiesel/oem-information/oem-statement-summary-chart

(i) J.	Sheehan,	V.	Camobreco,	J.	Duffield,	M.	Graboski,	and	H.	Shapouri.	1998.	An	Overview	of	Biodiesel	and	Petroleum	Diesel	Life Cycles.	Report	of	National	Renewable	Energy	Laboratory	(NREL)	and USDepartment	of	Energy	(DOE).

(j) R.L.	McCormick,	A.	Williams,	J.	Ireland,	M.	Brimhall,	and	R.R.	Hayes.	2006.	Effects	of	Biodiesel	Blends	on	Vehicle	Emissions. NREL	Milestone	Report	NREL/MP-540-40554.

(k) K.	Kelly,	L.	Eudy,	and	T.	Coburn.	1999.	Light-Duty	Alternative	Fuel	Vehicles:	Federal	Test	Procedure	Emissions	Results.	Report	of	National	Renewable	Energy	Laboratory	(NREL),	NREL/TP-540-25818.

(l) M.	Wang.	2005.	Energy	and	Greenhouse	Gas	Emissions	Impacts	of	Fuel	Ethanol.	Presentation	to	the	NGCA	Renewable	Fuels	Forum,	August	23,	2005.	Argonne	National	Laboratory.	Chicago,	IL.

(m) J.	Murray,	Ben	Lane,	K.	Lillie,	and	J.	McCallum.	2000.	An	Assessment	of	the	Emissions	Performance	of	Alternative	and	Conventional	Fuels.	Report	of	the	Alternative	Fuels	Group	of	the	Cleaner	Vehicles	Task	

Force.	Norwich,	UK.

(n) Energy	Information	Administration.	Monthly	Energy	Review.	Summary	for	2006.

(o) Methanol	Institute.	Fuel	Properties.	Accessed	11/14/2012	at	http://www.methanol.org/Energy/Resources/Alternative-Fuel/Alt-Fuel-Properties.aspx
Alternative	Fuels	Data	Center	– Fuel	Properties	Comparison	

www.afdc.energy.gov 																																																																																							4 												10/29/2014

(p) Foss,	Michelle.	2012.	LNG	Safety	and	Security.	Bureau	of	Economic	Geology,	Jackson	School	of	Geosciences.	University	of	Texas at	Austin.

(q)	Report	of	the	78th	National	Conference	on	Weights	and	measures,	1993,	NIST	Special	Publication	854,	pp	322-326	(NG	data	derived	from	field	sampling	of	pipeline	natural	gas	by	IGT/GRI).

(r) http://www.cleanvehicle.org/committee/technical/PDFs/DGEforCNGandLNGJustificationDocument.pdf