U.S. Department of Energy

Data shows average monthly retail fuel prices in the United States from 2000 to 2017. The price of petroleum fuels (gasoline and diesel fuel) is the primary driver of liquid fuel prices. This is because the liquid fuels are used in non-dedicated vehicles and can be substituted out by petroleum fuels if their price rises too high, therefore decreasing demand until the price drops to close that of the petroleum fuel. However, natural gas and electricity prices have been buffered from this driver because transportation only constitutes a tiny portion of their markets. LNG was first tracked in July 2016.

This data illustrates the trend of U.S. alternative fueling stations by fuel type from 1992 to 2016. Propane stations were the most numerous until 2011, when they were surpassed by electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), or charging units. The growth in EVSE units accelerated starting in 2011, following the 2010 increase of plug-in electric vehicles offered by major automakers. 2016 experienced the largest growth for EVSE in order to support the growing electric vehicle population. As the population of electric vehicles continues to increase, the demand to support with EVSE growth should do the same. The number of E85 stations has been increasing steadily since 2004, as the number of flex-fuel vehicles available from major manufacturers has increased. The number of CNG stations decreased between 1996 and 2007 (despite the increase in CNG sales during this time) largely because the average station size was increasing. The number of CNG stations then increased 2.4X between 2007 and 2016.

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) grew rapidly from 2011 to 2016 with a record high in 2016. Technology improvements, cost reduction, increasing model choice, maturing charging infrastructure, and economic recovery have continued to influence and support increased sales. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEVs - electric vehicles with an internal combustion engine assist) sales decreased slightly in 2015 due low gasoline prices; however, the growth experienced in 2016 is expected to continue into 2017. The Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt have been available on the market the longest and have the largest overall sales, and the Tesla Model S continues to be the best-selling plug-in electric vehicle (PEVs, including EVs and PHEVs) in the U.S. These three models accounted for over half of all PEV sales in 2015 and 2016.

The data in the Alternative Fueling Station Locator are gathered and verified through a variety of methods. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) obtains information about new stations from trade media, Clean Cities coordinators, a Submit New Station form on the Station Locator website, and through collaborating with infrastructure equipment and fuel providers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and industry groups.

This data shows the number of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), broken down by model, sold in the United States between 1999 and 2015. HEV sales surged in 2005, by which point the federal government and many states offered tax incentives or rebates to purchasers of HEVs. The Toyota Prius has been the top-selling HEV model since its introduction in 2000 despite the fact that there are now nearly 60 models available. The sales decline between 2008 and 2011 is consistent with overall declines in vehicle sales during the Great Recession. The increase in 2012 can be attributed to economic recovery, increased gasoline prices, and new CAFE standards. The decline in 2014 and 2015 is largely attributable to low gasoline prices. For comparison, see Light-Duty Vehicles Sold in the U.S.

Fuel Type - Fuel type with fueltype1 and fueltype2 (if applicable)Fuel Type 1 - Fuel type 1. For single fuel vehicles, this will be the only fuel. For dual fuel vehicles, this will be the conventional fuel.Fuel Type 2 - Fuel type 2. For dual fuel vehicles, this will be the alternative fuel (e.G. E85, electricity, cng, lpg). For single fuel vehicles, this field is not usedGuzzler - If g or t, this vehicle is subject to the gas guzzler taxStart Stop - Vehicle has start-stop technology (Y, N, or blank for older vehicles)Y - YesN - NoMpg Data - Has my mpg data; see your mpg vehicle and your mpg driver vehiclePhev Blended - If true, this vehicle operates on a blend of gasoline and electricity in charge depleting mode