TRANSPORTATION FUELS AND ENGINES FOR OPTIMUM ENERGY UTILIZATION: AN ASSESSMENT OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION FROM RESOURCES THROUGH END USE. FINAL REPORT, VOLUME 1

This report presents an assessment of the potential energy savings that could accrue from the use of alternative fuels in future transportation engines. Alternative fuels are defined in this study as hydrocarbon fuels which possess characteristicstics that assure user safety and satisfaction, but require less energy to produce than conventional specification fuels produced from the same resource. In particular, the energy requirements for producing such fuels from domestic coal and oil shale resources are examined from the standpoint of their adaptability to engine types having a high potential for achieving significant efficiency gains over existing transportation engines. Incentives for specific types of engine development are identified in terms of energy savings above those obtainable with current speculation fuels. While engine research and development incentives historically are based on economic trade-offs between the fuel and the engine, no attempt is made in this study to establish the costs of alternative fuels because of the many economic factors involved. Currently, appproximatel 50% of US petroleum consumption is used to fuel automotive engines for passenger car, bus, and truck transportation. Therefore, developments directed toward the use of more efficent engines that operate on alternatve fuels will have a major impact on the future energy security of the US.