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Table 4-20M: Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Table 4-20M: Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes

(Kilojoules per passenger-kilometer)

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  1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
AirR                                  
Certificated air carrier                                  
Domestic operations 5,659 6,633 6,677 5,078 3,755 3,308 3,233 3,062 2,992 2,988 2,913 2,873 2,742 R2,731 2,703 2,655 2,585
International operations 6,031 6,748 7,202 5,550 R2,845 3,345 2,980 3,022 2,792 2,687 2,718 2,736 2,693 2,733 2,804 2,703 2,628
Highwayb                                  
Passenger car 2,947 2,921 3,174 3,109 2,850 2,797 2,499 2,395 2,428 2,481 2,472 2,439 R2,418 2,397 R2,384 2,407 2,346
Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle N N 4,465 4,308 3,743 3,259 2,918 2,804 2,790 2,803 2,849 R2,975 R2,977 R2,992 R2,995 3,024 2,947
Motorcycle a a 1,639 1,543 1,393 1,243 1,305 1,257 1,305 1,352 1,400 R1,491 R1,489 R1,490 R1,490 1,490 1,490
Transit motor bus N N N N 1,798 2,226 2,441 2,470 2,647 2,586 2,728 2,724 2,751 2,772 R2,710 P2,651 U
Amtrak N N N 1,562 1,419 1,373 1,353 1,297 1,334 1,326 1,269 1,205 1,408 1,442 1,402 1,381 1,399

KEY: N = data do not exist; P = preliminary; R = revised; U = unavailable.

a Included in passenger car.

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

NOTES: To calculate total joules, multiply fuel consumed (see tables 4-21, 4-22, 4-24, 4-25) by 37,626,700 joules/liter for air carrier, 34,839,537 joules/liter for passenger car, other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle, and motorcycle, and 38,657,950 joules/liter for transit motor bus and Amtrak.

Numbers may differ slightly from previous year's metric tables because a higher precision conversion factor was used.

SOURCES:

Air:

Certificated air carriers:

Passenger-miles:

Air Transport Association, Internet site http://www.air-transport.org/public/industry as of Aug. 22, 2001.

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. 22, 2001.

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: March 2001), tables 30 and 65.

Amtrak:

Amtrak, State and Local Affairs Department, personal communications.