How Easy is Finding Alternative Fuel?
For those who want a more eco-conscious fuel than gasoline for their automobiles, there are plenty of options. The most commonly available are: B20 or biofuel; CNG, or compressed natural gas; E85 or ethanol; LPG or propane; electric; hydrogen; and LNG or liqueified natural gas. But how easy is it to refuel, especially when you're traveling?
Well, it's definitely not as simple as refueling with plain old gasoline. According to the most recent count of stations* across the country, there are 162,350 gasoline stations nationwide. By comparison, there are just 6,568 alternative-fuel stations** across the country. On average, drivers can find a gas station every 23.36 square miles and alt-fuel stations every 1,496 square miles. That's a big difference and certainly something to keep in mind when considering a switch to an alt-fuel-only vehicle.
So where is it easiest around the country to find alt-fueling stations, and which kinds of fuel are most readily available? Click ahead to see the country's top 15 states for alt-fuel convenience.
Posted: April 15, 2010
By Constance Parten
*National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
**US Department of Energy
15. New York
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/296.49
Total alt-fuel stations: 184
State area: 54,555 sq. miles
Station Breakdown:
B20: 13
CNG: 99
E85: 41
Electric: 2
Hydrogen: 9
LNG: 0
LPG: 17
Gasoline stations: 6,500
Source: US Department of Energy,
National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
14. Alabama
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/277.35
State area: 52,419 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 189
Station Breakdown:
B20: 10
CNG: 5
E85: 16
Electric: 0
Hydrogen: 0
LNG: 0
LPG: 158
Gasoline stations: 6,300
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
13. Ohio
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/271.66
State area: 44,825 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 165
Station Breakdown:
B20: 21
CNG: 10
E85: 62
Electric: 2
Hydrogen: 1
LNG: 0
LPG: 69
Gasoline stations: 4,764
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
12. Maryland
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/269.72
State area: 12,407 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 46
Station Breakdown:
B20: 9
CNG: 5
E85: 14
Electric: 0
Hydrogen: 0
LNG: 0
LPG: 18
Gasoline stations: 2,150
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
11. Minnesota
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/226.41
State area: 86,943 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 384
Station Breakdown:
B20: 0
CNG: 1
E85: 354
Electric: 2
Hydrogen: 0
LNG: 0
LPG: 27
Gasoline stations: 3,125
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
10. North Carolina
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/224.43
State area: 53,865 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 240
Station Breakdown:
B20: 145
CNG: 16
E85: 20
Electric: 4
Hydrogen: 0
LNG: 0
LPG: 54
Gasoline stations: 6,784
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
9. New Jersey
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/223.82
State area: 8,729 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 39
Station Breakdown:
B20: 4
CNG: 20
E85: 3
Electric: 2
Hydrogen: 0
LNG: 0
LPG: 10
Gasoline stations: 3,178
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
8. South Carolina
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/219.31
State area: 32,020 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 146
Station Breakdown:
B20: 30
CNG: 3
E85: 87
Electric: 0
Hydrogen: 2
LNG: 0
LPG: 20
Gasoline stations: 3,805
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
7. Indiana
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 214.22
State area: 36,418 sq. miles
Alt-fuel stations: 170
Station Breakdown:
B20: 7
CNG: 8
E85: 112
Electric: 0
Hydrogen: 0
LNG: 0
LPG: 43
Gasoline stations: 3,028
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
6. Massachusetts
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/191.91
State area: 10,555 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 55
Station Breakdown:
B20: 6
CNG: 21
E85: 2
Electric: 3
Hydrogen: 1
LNG: 0
LPG: 22
Gasoline stations: 3,221
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
5. Connecticut
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/191.13
State area: 5,543 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 29
Station Breakdown:
B20: 1
CNG: 13
E85: 1
Electric: 0
Hydrogen: 2
LNG: 0
LPG: 12
Gasoline stations: 1,520
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
4. Illinois
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/183.86
State area: 57,918 sq. miles
Total alt-fuel stations: 315
Station Breakdown:
B20: 5
CNG: 25
E85: 203
Electric: 8
Hydrogen: 1
LNG: 0
LPG: 73
Gasoline stations: 4,406
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
3. California
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/169.63
State area: 163,696 sq. miles
Alt-fuel stations: 965
Station Breakdown:
B20: 40
CNG: 202
E85: 44
Electric: 419
Hydrogen: 22
LNG: 27
LPG: 211
Gasoline stations: 10,400
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
2. Rhode Island
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/128.75
State area: 1,545 sq. miles
Alt-fuel stations: 12
Station Breakdown:
B20: 2
CNG: 5
E85: 0
Electric: 0
Hydrogen: 0
LNG: 0
LPG: 5
Gasoline stations: 401
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
1. Washington, DC
Alt-fuel stations/sq. mile: 1/9.75
DC area: 68.3 sq. miles
Alt-fuel stations: 7
Station Breakdown:
B20: 1
CNG: 2
E85: 3
Electric: 0
Hydrogen: 1
LNG: 0
LPG: 0
Gasoline stations: 114
Source: US Department of Energy, National Petroleum News Magazine's 2009 MarketFacts report
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