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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Energy Intensity of Transit Motor Buses

Embedded Dataset Excel:

Dataset Excel:

table_04_24_112223.xlsx (39.83 KB)

Notes:

Data from 1996 and after are not comparable to the data for earlier years or to the data published in previous editions of the report due to different data sources used.

Data from 1997 and after are for those vehicles used for both directly operated (DO) and purchased transportation (PT) services.

Data from 2011 includes all buses including rapid transit as well as commuter buses. 

Energy consumed, total does not include the other types of energy identified in table 17 in the National Transit Database due to the lack of  information on the unit of measurement for such data before 2008.

The following conversion rates were used:

Diesel = 137,381 Btu/gallon.

Compressed natural gas = 22,500 Btu/gallon.

Bio-Diesel = 127,595 Btu/gallon.

Liquefied natural gas = 84,800 Btu/gallon.

Gasoline = 120,286 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.

Description:

KEY: Btu = British thermal unit; KWH = Kilowatt hour; N = data do not exist.

a Before 2002, Other major fuels includes liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, ethanol, and bunker fuel. From 2002 - 13, Other major fuels includes liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, ethanol, bunker fuel, kerosene, and grain additive. After 2013, other major fuels includes liquefied petroleum gas, ethanol and hydrogen.

b Power includes electric propulsion and electric battery.

Source:

1960-95: American Public Transportation Association, Public Transportation Fact Book Appendix A: Historical Tables (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), tables 3 and 8 and similar tables in earlier editions, available at https://www.apta.com/research-technical-resources/transit-statistics/public-transportation-fact-book/ as of Dec. 18, 2019.

1996-2014: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database, tables 17, 19, and similar tables in earlier editions.

2002-22: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database, Annual Database Energy Consumption and Annual Database Service, available at https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data as of Oct. 30, 2023.

Publications: