PETROLEUM) .
The United States, with over 68% of the world's registered motor vehicles, needs and consumes by far the greatest quantity of gasoline, which is supplied practically entirely by domestic re fineries and in large measure by domestic crude oil production.
Other American countries account for 5.12% of the world's motor vehicle registration ; Europe, for 20.9% ; Africa, for 1.5%; Asia, for 1.5% and Oceania, for 2.6% ; this being an indication of the relative geographic consumption of gasoline.
Not alone by increased crude oil production, but also by de velopment of refining processes which have made it possible to utilize heavy crudes formerly yielding little, if any, gasoline and by increasing the yield from all crudes, the U.S. refineries since the advent of the motor car have progressively increased gasoline yield from the crude oil run to stills so that in 1938 they were obtaining on an average 18.6gal. from every 42-gal. barrel of crude oil run, or 44.2%, as against I o• 5gal. or 25% in 1915.
An analysis of probable future U.S. consumption of motor fuel and crude oil requirements entailed was made in 1935 by the Production Sub-Committee on Future Demand of the American Petroleum Institute. It was shown that the trend of motor fuel consumption per automobile unit had been definitely upward year by year because of greater year-round driving and better roads, having increased from an estimated 5 2 5gal. in 1918 to 69ogal. in The committee believed the trend would continue upward for a few years, after which it would decline due to the tendency toward greater economy of operation exemplified by the increas ing use of lighter cars with smaller engines and with the further probability of some slight increase in compression ratios and the addition of super-chargers. A probable peak of 73ogal. in 1940 was estimated, with the curve downward thereafter to a figure of 67ogal. per unit in 196o. It was the opinion of the committee that by 196o practically all heavy trucks and buses would be propelled by Diesel engines, using Diesel or fuel oil. Analysis of U.S. Bu reau of Public Roads reports on consumption of motor fuel re vealed that about 90% of all gasoline consumed was consumed by motor vehicles and the balance of I o% went for other uses. On the basis of unit consumption estimates and probable motor vehicle registration, the committee estimated the total future mo tor fuel demand as follows: Not all this gasoline would come from crude oil direct, as natu ral gasoline production averaged about 4o,00o,000bbl. per year and benzol (from coal) about 2,00o,000bbl. per year, and an in crease in these sources to 48,00o,000bbl. in 196o was believed probable. The committee estimated that the yield of gasoline from crude oil would be increased and the crude oil requirements to meet the increased future gasoline consumption therefore be proportionately lessened, as shown in the following table: The evident tremendous growth of aviation in military and commercial application which is now in process will undoubtedly greatly increase the proportion of gasoline needed for this pur pose, as well as raise estimates of probable future gasoline con sumption. Aviation gasoline consumption in the United States totals only about .4% of the entire gasoline consumed, divided as follows: For commercial aviation, .24% and for the Army Air Corps, National Guard, Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Depart ment (including Marine Corps), U.S. Coast Guard, and Bureau of Air Commerce, •16%.
Gasoline consumed by agriculture in the United States accounts for about 5.53% of the total gasoline consumption, divided as follows: For tractors 4.42% and for other farm uses 1.11%. Highway con struction agencies consume 1.03% and other construction operations 1.06%. About .3% is consumed by manufacturing industries; .28% by the U.S. Government ; .o8% for dry cleaning; .02% by the rail roads. Use of gasoline by boats is extensive but only a small per centage of the total gasoline consumed. There are nearly 250,000 motor boats registered in the United States, all fueled by gasoline. These and other marine uses account for about •16% of the total gasoline consumption.