#petroleum

It’s a crazy world we live in where gasoline costs less than milk or even bottled water, but this isn’t something out of a Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale, it’s reality in America today.

Despite a growing population, global fuel use is projected to decline after the year 2021. By 2035 overall consumption is expected to dip by 4 percent.

What’s old is new again. It seems like every clever idea or radical invention has already been thought of, existing in government patent archives or a 15th century sketch from Leonardo da Vinci. Retro design is a prime automotive example of this, but it’s not the only one. Ethanol is a promising transportation fuel of the future, just as it was a century ago.

Anyone that’s ever topped off their tank or filled up a jerry can knows gasoline comes in different grades, from regular unleaded to pricey premium. Each “flavor” has a number that corresponds to its octane level, but what does this mean? What is octane and what role does it play? AutoGuide reached out to experts in the fuels field for answers.