A Comparative Analysis of Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Requirements

This paper presents results of an assessment that identifies vehicle technology and fuel distribution system changes and costs associated with providing sufficient alternative fuels to displace one million barrels/day petroleum in the transportation sector in the 1995-2005 timeframe. The paper concludes that the capital cost of developing fuel delivery systems and a sufficient number of vehicles to achieve this displacement will be $22 billion if the alternative fuel is methanol, $36 billion if natural gas, and $288 billion if electricity. The predominant component of these costs is that of the incremental cost of the vehicles.