“The largest share of the 42 gallons of crude oil ends up as a finished motor gasoline. Motor gasoline accounts for 19.65 gallons (~ 47%) of the finished products produced from a barrel of crude oil. Next is distillate fuel or diesel at 10.03 gallons (~ 24%) . A distant third is jet fuel at only 4.07 gallons per barrel (~ 10%) of crude. Residual oil is typically around 1.72 gallons per barrel (~ 4%).

Other petroleum products that are created from a barrel of oil during the refining process include: still gas, petroleum coke, liquified refinery gas, asphalt and various oils for lubricants, kerosene, waxes and other miscellaneous products. These “other” hydrocarbon products account for the final 15% of the barrel or around 6.53 gallons of the 42 gallon barrel.”

If the US switches to diesel, its price would explode higher while gasoline prices would collapse due to simple supply and demand. Europe mainly consumes diesel thus balancing the US’s gasoline consumption.

@Ben — It’s great to see The Rocky Mountain Institute participate in these forums. Your continued application of common sense (e.g. focusing on moving people/cargo and not heavy drivetrains or battery packs) is always welcome and much appreciated.

Please see Rocky Mountain Institute’s recent blog post on this topic.

http://blog.rmi.org/TakingFuelEconomyFurther

Thanks,

Ben