Home > Renewables and Alternate Fuels > Estimated Number of Alternative Fueled Vehicles in Use in the United States, by Fuel Type

Estimated Number of Alternative Fueled Vehicles in Use in the United States, by Fuel Type

Data for: 2008
Report Release: April 2010
Next Release Date: April 2011
Table V1    xls   pdf   format      Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels 2008

Table V1. Estimated Number of Alternative Fueled Vehicles in Use in the United States, by Fuel Type, 2004 - 2008
Fuel Type 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) 118,532 117,699 116,131 114,391 113,973
Electric a  49,536 51,398 53,526 55,730 56,901
Ethanol, 85 percent (E85) b, c  211,800 246,363 297,099 364,384 450,327
Hydrogen 43 119 159 223 313
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 2,717 2,748 2,798 2,781 3,101
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) 182,864 173,795 164,846 158,254 151,049
Other Fuels  0 3 3 3 3
Total 565,492 592,125 634,562 695,766 775,667
  aExcludes gasoline-electric and diesel-electric hybrids because the input fuel is gasoline or diesel rather than an alternative transportation fuel. The Department of Energy, which has Energy Policy Act implementation authority, ruled that gasoline-electric and diesel-electric hybrids are not "alternative fuel vehicles."
  bThe remaining portion of 85-percent ethanol is gasoline.
  cIn 1997, some vehicle manufacturers began including E85 fueling capability in certain model lines of vehicles.  For 2008, the EIA estimates that the number of E85 vehicles that are capable of operating on E85, gasoline, or both, is about 7.1 million.  Many of these alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs) are sold and used as traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.  In this table, AFVs in use include only those E85 vehicles believed to be used as AFVs.  These are primarily fleet-operated vehicles.
  dMay include P-Series fuel or any other fuel designated by the Secretary of Energy as an alternative fuel in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 1995.
  Notes:  Vehicles in Use do not include concept and demonstration vehicles that are not ready for delivery to end users.  Vehicles in Use represent accumulated acquisitions, less retirements, as of the end of each calendar year.  The estimated number of neat methanol (M100), 85-percent methanol (M85), and 95-percent ethanol (E95) vehicles in use is zero for all years included in this table.  Therefore, those fuels are not shown.  
  Source: U. S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric, and Alternate Fuels and the DOE/GSA Federal Automotive Statistical Tool (FAST).