Frequently Asked Questions

How many alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles are there in the U.S.?

EIA estimates that in 2011¹there were nearly 11 million alternative fuel vehicles² in the United States. This total includes nearly 10 million ethanol-flex fuel vehicles, of which about 1 million actually used E85.

EIA estimates that there are also about 2 million hybrid-gas-electric and diesel-electric vehicles.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles in Use 2011:

	Light Duty	Medium Duty	Heavy Duty	Total
Ethanol — Flex Fuel	819,133	43,387	317	862,837
Liquid Petroleum Gas (Propane)	76,647	26,855	35,975	139,477
Natural Gas	66,147	23,473	32,030	121,650
Compressed Natural Gas	65,980	23,343	28,891	118,214
Liquefied Natural Gas	167	130	3,139	3,436
Electric — Battery	66,409	87	779	67,295
Hydrogen	425	1	101	527
Total	1,028,761	93,803	69,222	1,191,786

Source: Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels 2011 report

Total, Light Duty Ethanol-Flex Fuel and Hybrid Vehicles 2011 :

Ethanol — Flex Fuel³	9,946,09
Hybrid Gas/Diesel-Electric	2,126,357

Source: Annual Energy Outlook 2013, Table 58, Light-Duty Vehicle Stock by Technology Type.

1.Most recent data available.

2. A vehicle designed to operate on an alternative fuel, such as electricity, ethanol, liquid petroleum gas, or natural gas. The vehicle could be either a dedicated vehicle designed to operate exclusively on alternative fuel or a nondedicated vehicle designed to operate on alternative fuel and/or a traditional fuel.

3. Includes all ethanol flex-fuel vehicles; most are not using E85.

Last updated: May 16, 2013