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Project 6: History of Gasoline Infrastructure Innovations

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The goal of the study is to improve our understanding of technology innovations that occurred during the early phases of energy infrastructure developments, particularly electricity, natural gas (or town gas) and petroleum/gasoline infrastructures. The study extends previous research on early gasoline station innovations.

History of Gasoline Infrastructure Innovations

During the first decades of the 20th century, a variety of gasoline refueling methods supported the early U.S. gasoline vehicle fleet and successfully alleviated consumer concerns over refueling availability.  The methods employed included cans, barrels, home refueling outfits, parking garage refueling facilities, mobile stations, hand carts and curb pumps.  Only later, after robust markets for gasoline vehicles had been firmly established, did the gasoline service station become the dominant refueling method.  This history of early gasoline refueling can serve as an example of the successful introduction of a new vehicle fuel to a small but growing and geographically dispersed fleet of vehicles.  It is proposed that policy makers and industry recognize, by analogy, that certain innovations in hydrogen delivery and refueling may play a similar role during the phased introduction of a hydrogen infrastructure for vehicles.

Publications from this project:

Melaina, Marc W., "Turn of the Century Refueling: Lessons from the Past for Introducing Hydrogen Fuel for 21st Century Vehicles," Proceeding of the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) 2004 Annual Conference, April 2004.

    Bouwkamp, Nico, "Understanding Technological Transitions in History and Lessons Learned for a Hydrogen-Refueling Infrastructure," Proceeding of the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) 2004 Annual Conference, April 2004.

      Presentations from this project:

      Melaina, Marc W., "Turn of the Century Refueling: Lessons from the Past for Introducing Hydrogen Fuel for 21st Century Refueling," Presentation at the 15th National Hydrogen Association (NHA) Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA, April 26 - 30, 2004.

      Bouwkamp, Nico, "Understanding Technological Transitions in History and Lessons Learned for a Hydrogen-Refueling Infrastructure," Presentation at the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) 2004 Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA, April 28, 2004.

      Research Faculty: Marc W. Melaina
      Graduate Student Researcher: Nico Bouwkamp
      Funding: Hydrogen Pathways Program

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