Gasoline and Diesel Gallon Equivalency Methodology

This is the gasoline and diesel gallon equivalency methodology for compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) used in the fuel properties comparison tool.

Compressed Natural Gas

Gasoline (E10):
LHV Range = 112,114 ← → 116,090 Btu/gal

Low Sulfur Diesel
LHV¹= 128,488 Btu/gal

Natural Gas (compressed)
LHV² = 20,160 Btu/lb
Density²= 0.0458 lb/scf

Calculations:

Pounds Mass/Gasoline Gallon Equivalent Calculation

$$\frac{112,114 Btu}{gal}x\frac{lb}{20,160 Btu}=5.56 lb⁄gge$$

$$\frac{116,090 Btu}{gal} x \frac{lb}{20,160 Btu}=5.76 lb⁄gge$$

Average = 5.66 lb/gge

Standard Cubic Feet/Gasoline Gallon Equivalent Calculation

$$\frac{5.56 lb}{gal} x \frac{scf}{0.0458 lb}=121.39 scf⁄gge$$

$$\frac{5.76 lb}{gal} x \frac{scf}{0.0458 lb}=125.76 scf⁄gge$$

Average = 123.57 scf/gge

Pounds Mass/Diesel Gallon Equivalent Calculation

$$\frac{128,488 Btu}{gal} x \frac{lb}{20,160 Btu}=6.38 lb⁄dge$$

Standard Cubic Feet/Diesel Gallon Equivalent Calculation

$$\frac{6.38 lb}{gal} x \frac{scf}{0.0458 lb}=139.30 scf⁄dge$$

Liquefied Natural Gas

Natural Gas (Liquefied)
LHV²= 21,240 Btu/lb
Natural Gas (compressed)
LHV²= 20,160 Btu/lb

Calculations:

$$\frac{20,160 Btu}{lb} x \frac{lb}{21,240 Btu}=0.949$$

Pounds Mass LNG/Gasoline Gallon Equivalent Calculation

$$0.949 x 5.66 lb⁄gge=5.38 lb⁄gge$$

Pounds Mass LNG/Diesel Gallon Equivalent Calculation

$$0.949 x 6.38 lb⁄gge=6.06 lb⁄gge$$

¹ Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model, version 1. 2013. Input Fuel Specifications. Argonne National Laboratory. Chicago, IL.
² Report of the 78th National Conference on Weights and measures, 1993, NIST Special Publication 854, pp 322-326