Who first invented gasoline: the history of creating fuel for cars

Gasoline today is not just a fuel, but the basis of transport infrastructure. Without it, it is impossible to imagine the operation of billions of cars, airplanes and even some types of equipment. But few people think: who invented gasoline first? It turns out that the history of this fuel is much more complicated than it seems. This is not the invention of one person, but the result of the evolution of oil refining, scientific discoveries and industrial revolutions.

Many people mistakenly believe that gasoline appeared with the first car. In fact, its story began long before Mercedes-Benz and Ford Model T. The first mention of light fractions of oil, similar to gasoline, refers to 19th century, when scientists and entrepreneurs experimented with the distillation of crude oil. And the term “gasoline” itself has German roots and is associated with aromatic hydrocarbons. But who was at the origins?

In this article, we'll look at how gasoline went from being a byproduct to the world's most sought-after fuel, who were the key contributors to its creation, and why modern internal combustion engines would not exist without it.

From oil to gasoline: the first steps of refining

Until the mid-19th century, oil was considered more of a curious natural phenomenon than a useful resource. It was used mainly for lighting (in the form of kerosene) and lubricating mechanisms. But everything changed when scientists began to study the process oil distillation — dividing it into fractions according to boiling points.

The first experiments with oil distillation were carried out back in 1820s in Europe and the USA. For example, the British chemist James Young in 1848 he patented a method for producing kerosene from oil, which was a breakthrough for the lighting industry. However, light fractions, which today are called gasoline, were then considered unnecessary waste - they were simply burned or dumped.

The situation began to change closer to 1860swhen the first internal combustion engines (ICE) appeared. Engineers realized that light hydrocarbons with low boiling points were ideal for new mechanisms. But who was the first to think of using them as fuel?

• 🔬 1825 — Michael Faraday isolates light fractions from oil, but does not see any practical use in them.
• 🛢️ 1850s — Industrial oil production is beginning in the USA and Russia, but gasoline is not yet in demand.
• 🔥 1860s — The first patent descriptions of the use of “gas gasoline” in lamps and stoves.

Who first got gasoline: a dispute between scientists

There is no clear answer to the question of who exactly was the first to synthesize gasoline in the form we are familiar with. The point is that it was a gradual process that involved several key figures. Some historians attribute the palm to the German chemist Karl Schorlemmer, others - to the American inventor Samuel M. Kirner.

Karl Schorlemmer (1834–1892) in 1860s carried out research on petroleum fractions in Manchester. He was the first to describe the properties of light hydrocarbons, which later became known as gasoline. However, his work was more theoretical - he did not patent the fuel and did not propose it for engines.

But Samuel Kirner in 1855 in the United States received a patent for “hydrocarbon oil” - a product of petroleum distillation, which had characteristics similar to gasoline. His invention was used mainly for cleaning fabrics and as a solvent, but even then it was clear that the substance was highly flammable.

⚠️ Attention: The term "gasoline" first appeared in German as "Benzin" - derived from "Benzoegasoline", and the German name was fixed in Russian.

Scientist/Inventor	Year	Contribution to the creation of gasoline
James Young	1848	Patent for distilling petroleum to produce kerosene (gasoline was a by-product)
Karl Schorlemmer	1860s	Studied the chemical composition of light oil fractions
Samuel Kirner	1855	Patent for “hydrocarbon oil” - gasoline prototype
Nikolaus Otto	1876	Created the first four-stroke internal combustion engine running on gasoline

Gasoline and the first engines: how the fuel became in demand

Until the end of the 19th century, gasoline remained a by-product of oil refining. Everything changed with the invention internal combustion engine (ICE). B 1876 German engineer Nikolaus Otto created the first four-stroke engine that ran on gas fuel. Later it was adapted for liquid fuel - and here gasoline turned out to be an ideal candidate.

Played a key role Gottlieb Daimler, which in 1885 developed a carburetor and used gasoline for his engine. And already in 1886 Karl Benz (founder Mercedes-Benz) patented the first car with a gasoline engine - Benz Patent-Motorwagen. This event became a starting point for the auto industry.

Interestingly, the first cars could run on other types of fuel - for example, kerosene or alcohol. But gasoline won thanks to:

• ⚡ High energy intensity (more energy during combustion).
• 🔥 Ease of ignition in internal combustion engines.
• 🛢️ Possibility to store and transport in liquid form.

The evolution of gasoline: from waste to high-octane fuel

At the beginning of the 20th century, gasoline was not yet as we know it. It had a low octane number (about 40–50), which led to detonation in engines. The discovery changed the situation tetraethyl lead in 1921 — an anti-knock additive, which made it possible to increase the octane number to 70–80. This invention is attributed to the American chemist Thomas Midgley.

However, lead additives turned out to be extremely toxic. K 1970s Many countries have begun to phase out leaded gasoline, switching to more environmentally friendly alternatives. Today standard brands of gasoline (AI-92, AI-95, AI-98) are produced using:

• 🧪 Catalytic cracking (splitting of heavy hydrocarbons).
• 🔬 Reforming (increasing octane number without lead).
• 🌿 Bioadditives (ethanol, biobutanol).

A little-known fact: in the USSR, until the 1960s, gasoline was labeled according to a different principle - for example, “B-70” meant gasoline with an octane number of 70, and not “AI-76”, as later.

Why is gasoline called "AI-95"

The decoding is simple: “A” is automobile, “I” is the octane number determined by a research method, “95” is the octane number itself. In the USA, similar gasoline is designated as "Premium" (octane number 91-93 on their scale).

Myths and misconceptions about the creation of gasoline

There are many myths surrounding the history of gasoline. One of the most common is that gasoline was invented Henry Ford. In fact, Ford only popularized cars with gasoline engines, but had nothing to do with the creation of fuel. Another myth says that gasoline was invented specifically for cars. This is also incorrect: the first internal combustion engines appeared later than industrial oil refining began.

Another misconception is that gasoline and diesel fuel were created at the same time. In fact, Rudolf Diesel developed his engine in 1893, and diesel fuel began to be widely used only in 1920s. By that time, gasoline was already the main fuel for transport.

⚠️ Attention: Some sources claim that gasoline was invented by John Rockefeller - this is not true. Rockefeller created an oil empire Standard Oil, but was not a chemist or inventor.

Modern gasoline: standards and the future of fuel

Today, gasoline is a high-tech product with strict standards. Valid in Russia GOST 32513-2013, which regulates the octane number, sulfur content and other parameters. Standards are used in Europe and the USA EN 228 and ASTM D4814 accordingly. Basic requirements for modern gasoline:

• 🔢 Octane number not lower than 92 (for AI-92).
• 🧪 Sulfur content no more than 10 mg/kg (European standard).
• 🌡️ Boiling temperature in the range of 30–200°C.

The future of gasoline is associated with:

• 🔋 Synthetic fuel (e-fuel) produced from CO₂ and hydrogen.
• 🌱 Biogasoline from vegetable raw materials.
• ⚡ Hybrid systems where gasoline is combined with electric motors.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the creation of gasoline

🔍 Why is gasoline called “gasoline” in the USA?

The term "gasoline"derived from the word "gas" (gas) and the suffix "-oline" which was used to denote oils. In British English we first used "petrol", and in American it stuck "gasoline"or abbreviated"gas».

🛢️ Was it possible to use gasoline for cars in the 19th century?

Technically yes, but the first cars didn't appear until the 1880s, and before that, gasoline wasn't widely used. In addition, early gasoline samples were of poor quality and could damage engines.

⚗️ Who invented the octane number?

The concept of octane number was developed by an American engineer Graham Edgar in 1926. He proposed a scale where n-heptane (octane number 0) and isooctane (octane number 100) became the reference substances for measuring knock resistance.

🚗 When did gasoline become the main fuel for cars?

K 1920s gasoline has practically replaced other types of fuel (kerosene, alcohol) due to its low cost, high energy intensity and the development of oil refining. Mass production of cars played a decisive role Ford Model T.

🌍 Which country was the first to start industrial production of gasoline?

The first industrial oil refineries appeared in USA (Pennsylvania, 1850s) and Russia (Baku, 1860s). However, it is American companies such as Standard Oil, made gasoline a mass product.