Figure 7-9 Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes: 1990-2014
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 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2,588 | 2,428 | 2,366 | 2,329 |
| 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 | 3,338 | 3,519 | 3,484 | 3,392 | 3,260 |
| 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 | 4,242 | ||||||
| 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 | 3,877 |
| 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 | 5,472 | ||
| 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 | 3,602 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | 1,608 |
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 May 2016.