THE OUTLOOK FOR AUTOMOTIVE FUEL SUPPLIES, ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE ENGINES, AND POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION TAX STRUCTURES (1985-2000)

This report examines potential developments in automotive fuel supplies, alternatives to the Otto Cycle engine, and implications of projected developments in these areas for state road user tax arrangements. Natural crude petroleum supplies will be supplemented by synthetic crude and alcohols. Short term (5-10 years) shortages in fuel supplies could develop if development of alternative fuels is postponed. In the longer run, automotive fuel supplies seem reasonably assured, with real prices rising probably less than 100% above current levels. Alternative heat engines, electric vehicles, and fuel cells are considered in regard to the state of their technological development and ability to utilize nonstandard fuels. Modified Otto Cycle or other heat engine cycle engines will likely dominate the market, while widespread use of electric vehicles will require major breakthroughs in advanced batteries, barring significant and prolonged shortages of liquid fuels. Alternative taxing arrangements briefly evaluated are: BTU based tax on liquid fuels; increased annual registration fees for alternatively powered vehicles; electric flow recharge metering; tax on traction batteries; periodic odometer readings; and road surface checkpoint metering. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared with the assistance of the Center for Metropolitan Planning and Research of the Johns Hopkins University.
• Corporate Authors:

  Maryland Department of Transportation

  Division of Finance, Baltimore-Washington Internatl Airport
  , MD  United States  21240
• Authors:
  • BARRON, W
  • Crawford, E
  • Weinberg, M
• Publication Date: 1978-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 206 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohols; Automobiles; Crude oil; Electric batteries; Electric vehicles; Engines; Fees; Fuel cells; Fuels; Highway user taxation; Prices; Synthetic fuels
• Old TRIS Terms: Metering
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00173885
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Report No. 2 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 31 1978 12:00AM