History of Gasoline in Timeline

Gasoline, also known as petrol, is a transparent, flammable liquid derived from the fractional distillation of petroleum. It is primarily used as fuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. Gasoline is chemically composed of organic compounds and is enhanced with additives to improve its performance as a fuel. It is a high-volume and profitable product of crude oil refineries.

1943: Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engine performance

In 1943, the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engine produced 980 kilowatts (1,320 hp) using 100 RON fuel. By the time of Operation Overlord, the RAF and USAAF were conducting operations in Europe using 150 RON fuel, with the Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 developing 1,500 kilowatts (2,000 hp) using this fuel.

1973: EPA regulations to reduce lead content

In 1973, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued regulations to reduce the lead content of leaded gasoline over a series of annual phases, but these were delayed by court appeals until 1976.

1973: Oil crisis and US distillation permit

Since producing bioethanol from fermented sugars and starches involves distillation, though, ordinary people in much of Europe cannot legally ferment and distill their own bioethanol at present (unlike in the U.S., where getting a BATF distillation permit has been easy since the 1973 oil crisis).

1976: EPA regulations implementation

In 1976, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations to reduce the lead content of leaded gasoline, which were issued in 1973, were finally implemented after court appeals.

1993: Gasoline sniffing in Davis Inlet

In 1993, Native children in the isolated Northern Labrador community of Davis Inlet were the focus of national concern, when many were found to be sniffing gasoline.

1995: Leaded fuel share

By 1995, leaded fuel accounted for only 0.6 percent of total gasoline sales in the U.S., amounting to under 1,800 metric tons of lead per year.

January 1996: U.S. Clean Air Act ban on leaded fuel

In January 1996, the U.S. Clean Air Act banned the sale of leaded fuel for use in on-road vehicles in the U.S.

1998: Gasoline price fluctuation start

From 1998 to 2004, the price of gasoline fluctuated between $0.26 and $0.53 per liter.

December 1999: Withdrawal of leaded gasoline from sale in Britain

Leaded gasoline was withdrawn from sale in Britain after 31 December 1999, seven years after EEC regulations signalled the end of production for cars using leaded gasoline in member states.

2000: Gasoline sniffing in Sheshatshiu

In 2000, similar problems of gasoline sniffing were reported in Sheshatshiu.

2002: Relocation of Davis Inlet community

In 2002, the community of Davis Inlet, where gasoline sniffing was a problem, was moved to the new community of Natuashish, but serious inhalant abuse problems have continued.

2003: Gasoline stations withdrawing LRP from sale

By 2003, the declining number of cars on British roads that ran on leaded gasoline saw many gasoline stations withdrawing LRP (Lead Replacement Petrol) from sale.

2003: Hazardous chemicals in Texan unleaded gasoline

The safety data sheet for a 2003 Texan unleaded gasoline shows at least 15 hazardous chemicals occurring in various amounts, including benzene, toluene, naphthalene, trimethylbenzene, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and about 10 others.

2004: Gasoline price fluctuation end

From 1998 to 2004, the price of gasoline fluctuated between $0.26 and $0.53 per liter.

2004: Ethanol production in the U.S.

In 2004, over 13 billion liters of ethanol were produced in the U.S. for fuel use, mostly from corn and sold as E10.

2005: Usage of Opal fuel

In 2005, the Government of Australia and BP Australia began the usage of Opal fuel in remote areas prone to petrol sniffing. Opal is a non-sniffable fuel, which is much less likely to cause a high, and has made a difference in some indigenous communities.

May 2006: Federal oxygen requirement dropped

In May 2006, the federal requirement that Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) contain oxygen was dropped because the industry had developed VOC-controlled RFG that did not need additional oxygen.

October 2007: Mandatory ethanol blending in India

In October 2007, the Government of India decided to make five percent ethanol blending (with gasoline) mandatory.

2007: Biofuels Act in New South Wales

In 2007, New South Wales mandated biofuel in its Biofuels Act 2007. Fuel pumps must be clearly labelled with its ethanol/biodiesel content.

2008: Peak average gasoline price

In mid-2008, the average gasoline price reached a high of $1.09 per liter.

May 2009: Premium grade gasoline sales

About nine percent of all gasoline sold in the U.S. in May 2009 was premium grade.

September 2009: Gasoline price decrease

By September 2009, the average gasoline price had receded to approximately $0.69 per liter.

2009: Federal tax on gasoline and diesel

As of 2009, the federal tax in the U.S. was $0.049 per liter for gasoline and $0.064 per liter for diesel.

2009: Increase of renewable percentage in gasoline

From 2009, the renewable percentage in gasoline slowly increased from 5% to 10% by 2022.

2011: Upswing in gasoline prices in the U.S.

In 2011 the U.S. experienced an upswing in gasoline prices.

March 2012: National average gasoline price

By 1 March 2012, the national average gasoline price in the U.S. was $0.99 per liter.

2012: Gasoline sniffing news in Canada

In 2012, the issue of gasoline sniffing once again made the news media in Canada.

2017: Biofuel mandate in Queensland

Since 2017, Queensland has had a biofuel mandate. Fuel pumps must be clearly labelled with its ethanol/biodiesel content.

August 2021: Worldwide eradication of leaded gasoline

In August 2021, the UN Environment Programme announced that leaded gasoline had been eradicated worldwide, with Algeria being the last country to deplete its reserves. This was hailed as an international success story.

2021: Oil products contribution to CO2 emissions

In 2021, oil products, including gasoline, were responsible for about 32% of CO2 emissions worldwide.

2021: International Energy Agency on fuel economy

In 2021, the International Energy Agency stated that governments must continue regulatory efforts to monitor and reduce the gap between real-world fuel economy and rated performance to ensure fuel economy and CO2 emissions standards are effective.

2021: International Energy Agency on road fuels taxation

The International Energy Agency said in 2021 that "road fuels should be taxed at a rate that reflects their impact on people's health and the climate".

2022: Renewable percentage in gasoline increase to 10%

From 2009 to 2022, renewable percentage in gasoline slowly increased from 5% to 10%.

2024: Limited E10 adoption in the EU

As of 2024, eight countries in the EU have not adopted E10 despite EU-produced ethanol being able to achieve a climate-neutral production capability and most EU cars being able to use E10.

2025: Mandatory E20 blending in India

In July 2025, India has mandated blending of E20 despite facing backlash. Ethanol has been found in at least one study to damage catalytic converters.