Energy per volume converter
Convert how much energy fits in a liter between MJ/L, Wh/L, kWh/m³ and BTU per gallon.
That's 1.45× as energy-dense as ethanol, while petrol is 1.01× denser. A 50-liter tank of it would hold about 472.2 kWh.
What it means
How much fits in a liter?
Fuels use the higher heating value; batteries are usable electrical energy per liter of cell. Gases are at atmospheric pressure unless stated.
Every unit
Your energy density in every unit
Learn
Three things worth knowing
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1 kWh/L = 3.6 MJ/L
Diesel at 38.6 MJ/L holds about 10.7 kWh in every liter. The best lithium-ion cells manage about 0.65 kWh.
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Why liquids won
Hydrocarbons pack carbon and hydrogen atoms at liquid density, with oxygen supplied free from the air. No battery can match that, because a battery has to carry both halves of its reaction.
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Do not compare gas by the liter at 1 atm
Natural gas holds 1,000 times less energy per liter than diesel at room pressure. Quote the pressure or the liquefied state, or the comparison means nothing.
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Background
About energy per volume
Energy per kilogram decides how heavy a fuel tank is; energy per liter decides how big it is. For cars, ships and aircraft the tank has to fit somewhere, so this is often the number that matters.
It is why hydrogen, the best fuel by weight, is one of the worst by volume unless it is squeezed to 700 bar or chilled to −253 °C.