Comparison of automobile fuel technologies

Gasoline

Ethanol

Diesel

Biodiesel

Compressed air

Hydrogen (internal combustion)

Electric

Hydrogen (Fuel cells)

| Net output for single unit of input

1.3

3.2

≈0.25 × source of compressed air

0.9 × source of electricity

0.17 to 0.85 × source of electricity

| New Infrastructure needed to be practical

Ethanol pipeline (ethanol corrodes conventional oil pipeline)

compressed air stations

hydrogen stations

chargers in parking zones

hydrogen stations

| Current state of development

well developed, common

Production Obstacles need to be overcome

well developed, less common

Production Obstacles need to be overcome

well developed, uncommon

Production Obstacles need to be overcome

Charging time need to be overcome

Technological/Production Obstacles need to be overcome

Total chemicals emitted relative to gasoline

Gasoline

Ethanol

Diesel

Biodiesel

Compressed air

Hydrogen (internal combustion)

Electric

Hydrogen (Fuel cells)

| carbon dioxide

100%

≈ 100%

22%

on source of compressed air

on source of electricity

on source of electricity

on source of electricity

| carbon monoxide

100%

< 100%

50%

on source of compressed air

on source of electricity

on source of electricity

on source of electricity

| benzofluoranthene

100%

44%

on source of compressed air

on source of electricity

on source of electricity

on source of electricity