BTS | Table 4-20: Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes (Btu per passenger-mile)

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Table 4-20: Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes (Btu per passenger-mile)

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	1960	1965	1970	1975	1980	1985	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Air, certificated carrier
Domestic operations	8,633	10,118	10,185	7,746	5,727	5,047	4,932	4,671	4,564	4,558	4,444	4,382	4,183	4,166	4,123	4,049	^R3,942	3,940
International operations	9,199	10,292	10,986	8,465	4,339	5,103	4,546	4,609	4,258	4,099	4,145	4,173	4,108	4,168	4,278	4,123	4,009	4,126
Highway^a
Passenger car	4,495	4,455	4,841	4,743	4,348	4,267	3,812	3,654	3,703	3,785	3,771	3,721	3,688	3,657	3,637	3,672	3,578	U
Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle	N	N	6,810	6,571	5,709	4,971	4,451	4,277	4,256	4,275	4,345	4,538	4,541	4,564	4,569	4,612	4,495	U
Motorcycle	b	b	2,500	2,354	2,125	1,896	1,990	1,917	1,990	2,063	2,135	2,274	2,271	2,273	2,273	2,273	2,273	U
Transit motor bus	N	N	N	N	2,742	3,396	3,723	3,767	4,038	3,944	4,162	4,155	4,196	4,228	4,133	4,044	^P4,147	U
Amtrak	N	N	N	2,383	2,164	2,094	2,064	1,978	2,035	2,023	1,935	1,838	2,148	2,200	2,138	2,107	2,134	U

KEY: Btu = British thermal unit; N = data do not exist; P = preliminary; R = revised; U = data are not available.

^a For 1995 and subsequent years, highway passenger-miles were taken directly from Highway Statistics rather than derived from vehicle-miles and average occupancy, as is the case for 1960-1994.

^b Included in passenger car.

NOTES

To calculate total Btu, multiply fuel consumed (see tables 4-21, 4-22, 4-24, 4-25) by 135,000 Btu/gallon for air carrier, 125,000 Btu/gallon for passenger car, other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle, and motorcycle, 138,700 Btu/gallon for transit motor bus and Amtrak diesel consumption, and 3,412 Btu/KwH for Amtrak electric consumption.

SOURCES

Air:

Certificated air carriers:

Passenger-miles:

Air Transport Association, Internet site http://www.air-transport.org/public/industry as of Aug. 30, 2002.

Fuel consumed:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of Airline Information, Internet site http://www.bts.gov/oai/fuel/fuelyearly.html as of Aug. 30, 2002.

Highway:

Passenger car:

1960-94: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics Summary to 1995, FHWA-PL-97-009 (Washington, DC: July 1997), table VM-201A.

1995-2000: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual issues), table VM-1.

Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle:

1970-94: Ibid., Highway Statistics Summary to 1995, FHWA-PL-97-009 (Washington, DC: July 1997), table VM-201A.

1995-2000: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual issues), table VM-1.

Motorcycle:

1970-85: Ibid., Highway Statistics Summary to 1985, FHWA-PL-97-009 (Washington, DC: July 1997), table VM-201A.

1990-2000: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual issues), table VM-1.

Transit motor bus:

American Public Transportation Association, Public Transportation Fact Book (Washington, DC: February 2002), tables 30 and 65.

Amtrak:

Amtrak, State and Local Affairs Department, personal communication.