Hydrogen Fuel Cost vs Gasoline
Hydrogen… It’s Renewable
Gasoline… It’s Non-Renewable
Cost of Hydrogen1
Source: Water
Supply: Infinite
Renewable: Yes
Carbon Footprint: No
Cost per gallon: $1.00 – 1.80kg (gge)
Source cost: $1.50 per 1000/gal. or $0.0015/gallon2
Refinery Costs: $700 – $3,500/bpd
Miles per kg of Hydrogen: 81
Additional Environmental Impact Costs: No
Foot Notes:
1. Hydrogen is measured by the kilogram. 1 kilogram is 1 gallon of gasoline equivalent (gge).
2. $0.0015/gallon + $0.987/kg (gge) Refining Costs = $0.9885 = $1.00/kg (gge) using Atmospheric Electrolyses.
$0.0015/gallon + $1.80/kg (gge) Refining Costs =
$1.8015 = $1.80/kg (gge) using Compressed Electrolyses.NOTE: It takes 3 gallons of water to make 1 kg of hydrogen, 1 gallon of water = 0.38 kg of hydrogen, roughly a 3:1 ratio. Therefore: 1000 gallons of water ÷ 3 = (produces) 333 kg of H2
÷ 50 gallons per drum = 6.66 “barrels of H2” per 1000 gallons of water. That is equivalent to a 7:1 H2 to crude oil ratio.
Energy needed to make 1 kg of H2 = 32.9 kWh/kg. using atmospheric electrolyses.
Off peak rate of $0.03/kw x 32.9 kWh = $0.987/kg.
Energy needed to make 1 kg of H2 = 60 kWh/kg using compressed electrolyses.
Off peak rate of $0.03/kw x60 kWh = $1.80
Source: Crude Oil
Supply: Finite
Renewable: No
Carbon Footprint: Yes
Cost per gallon: $2.321
Source Cost: $101.14/barrel2 or $1.98/gallon
Refinery Costs: $1,000 – $5,000/bpd
Miles per Gallon of Gasoline: 18 – 31
Additional Environmental Impact Costs: Yes
1. NOTE: Based on the national average of one (1) gallon of gasoline at retail of $3.35/gal. reported on 1/6/12.
59% of cost is Crude Oil or $3.35 x 59% = $1.98/gallon. 10% of cost is Refining Costs or $3.35 x 10% = $0.34/gallon. Refining Costs & Crude
$1.98 + $0.34 = $2.32 per Gallon2. NOTE: The actual cost of a barrel of Crude Oil at 2:25 p.m. EST on 1/6/12 was $101.14/barrel)2. The components of the retail price of gasoline are: Crude Oil Price (59%), Federal & State Taxes (20%), Refining Costs (10%), Distribution & Marketing (11%)
American Water Works Association
United States Department of EnergyEnergy Information Administration (EIA), Washington D.C.
National Hydrogen Association
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA)
