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Figure 7-8 Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes: 1990-2013

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Graphic Version | Excel

Btu per passenger mile

  1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Air domestic 8,633 10,118 10,185 8,532 6,029 4,950 4,767 4,536 4,413 4,457 4,345 4,282 4,096 4,091 3,881 4,009 3,892 3,848 3,608 3,493 3,408 3,232 3,142 3,040 2,936 2,774 2,691 2,597 2,465 2,704
Air international 9,199 10,292 10,986 7,547 4,374 4,586 4,207 4,192 3,963 3,861 3,916 3,932 3,893 3,955 3,854 3,952 3,857 4,039 3,984 4,180 3,890 3,817 3,665 3,572 3,473 3,384 3,330 3,519 3,477  
Light duty highway vehicle             4,006 3,864 3,899 3,963 3,978 4,011 4,009 3,985 3,971 4,014 3,926 3,751 3,803 3,916 3,885 3,782 3,730 3,641 3,546 4,184 4,218 4,236 4,211 4,195
Passenger car 4,495 4,455 4,841 4,743 4,348 4,269 3,811 3,654 3,704 3,787 3,771 3,721 3,702 3,657 3,637 3,671 3,589 3,597 3,600 3,570 3,509 3,585 3,510 3,368 3,344 3,823 3,854 3,885 3,861 3,843
Light truck     6,810 6,571 5,709 4,971 4,451 4,277 4,256 4,275 4,345 4,539 4,560 4,563 4,568 4,611 4,509 3,985 4,121 4,452 4,452 4,077 4,042 4,537 4,159 5,411 5,447 5,472 5,463 5,453
Transit bus                         4,170 3,989 3,918 3,848 3,960 3,839 3,766 3,778 3,886 3,657 3,702 3,596 3,511 3,472 3,350 3,343 3,250 3,570
Amtrak       2,383 2,148 2,089 2,066 1,978 2,024 2,018 1,900 2,017 2,201 2,289 2,255 2,344 2,688 2,690 2,537 2,145 2,068 2,025 1,948 1,824 1,745 1,773 1,668 1,628 1,561  

KEY: Btu = Britsh Thermal Unit

NOTES: Light-duty highway vehicles include passenger cars, light trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles. Highway data for 2007-2011 were calculated using a new methodology and are not comparable to previous years. A change in vehicle occupancy rates derived from the National Household Travel Surveys results in a shift of highway passenger-miles between 2008 and 2009. Energy Intensity (Btu per Passenger mile) = Energy Use (Btu) / Passenger Miles, Energy Use calculated by using fuel and electricity usage and converting to energy by using BTS conversion rates. The following conversion rates were used: Diesel =138,700 Btu/gallon. Compressed natural gas = 22,500 Btu/gallon. Bio-Diesel = 126,200 Btu/gallon. Liquefied natural gas = 84,800 Btu/gallon. Gasoline = 125,000 Btu/gallon. Liquefied petroleum gas = 91,300 Btu/gallon. Methanol = 64,600 Btu/gallon. Ethanol = 84,600 Btu/gallon. Bunker fuel = 149,700 Btu/gallon. Kerosene = 135,000 Btu/gallon. Grain additive = 120,900 Btu/gallon. Electricity 1KWH = 3,412 Btu, negating electrical system losses. This table includes approximate electrical system losses, and thus the conversion factor is multiplied by 3.

SOURCES: Highway–Federal Highway Administration. Air–Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of Airline Information. Amtrak–National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), personal communication with Energy Management Department and Government Affairs Department and Association of American Railroads. Transit–Federal Transit Administration as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, table 4-21, 4-22, 4-24, and 4-16, available at www.bts.gov as of March 2015.