Welcome to the California Energy Almanac

Gasoline Gallon Equivalents (GGE) for Alternative Fuels
Fuel British Thermal Unit (Btu) Estimates for Transportation Vehicles (Lower Heating Values)

British Thermal Units
Per Unit of Fuel (rounded)		 Alt Fuel Unit in
Gasoline Gallon Equivalents		 Alt Fuel Unit in
Diesel Gallon Equivalents		 Example for Converting into GGE
Diesel Gallon 127,500 1.140 1.000 5 Diesel Gallons = 5.7 GGEs 5 x 1.14
Gasoline Gallon1 111,800 1.000 0.877 GGE = Gasoline Gallon
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Gallon 71,100 0.636 0.558 12 LNG Gallons = 7.632 GGEs 12 x 0.636
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Therm 93,000 0.832 0.729 10 CNG Therms = 8.32 GGEs
E85 Gallon
85% Ethanol, 15% gasoline		 81,700 0.731 0.641 10 E85 Gallons = 7.31 GGEs
B20 Gallon
20% biodiesel, 80% diesel		 125,400 1.122 0.984 10 B20 Gallons = 11.22 GGEs
B100 Gallon
100% biodiesel		 117,100 1.047 0.918 15 B100 Gallons = 15.705 GGEs 15 x 1.047
Liquefied Petroelum Gas (LPG/Propane) Gallon 83,200 0.744 0.653 15 LPG Gallons = 11.16 GGEs 15 x 0.744
Hydrogen Gallon 27,800 0.249 0.218 10 Hydrogen Gallons = 2.49 GGEs
Electricity (kilowatt-hours/kWh) 3,412 0.031 0.027 100 kWh of Electricity = 3.1 GGEs

Footnote:

  1. Gasoline value is a revised number not yet endorsed by California Energy Commission.

Source: California Energy Commission, Transporation Energy Division, Fossil Fuels Office
Table 2-5, Pg. 2-16, Full Fuel Cycle Assessment Well to Tank Energy Inputs, Emissions, and Water Impacts, TIAX Consultant Report,
February 2008, publication # CEC-600-2007-002-D, www.energy.ca.gov/2007publications/CEC-600-2007-002/CEC-600-2007-002-D.PDF

Note: For transportation applications Lower Heating Values are used. Listed values are consistent with GGE conversions performed in the 2009 Integrated Energy Policy Report with regards to transportation issues. Estimates may not reflect the sales-weighted average for California for any specific year. In reality, these numbers vary based on feedstock supply and specifications. Numbers were generated based on California Air Resources Board-approved specification for gasoline prior to 2007, which have since been revised.

Other potential sources for Gasoline Gallon Equivalents conversions: Argonne National Laboratory's GREET Model, California Air Resources Board (CARB), U.S. Dept. of Energy: Energy Information Administration Clean Cities Reports.