BTS | Table 4-20: Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes

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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	2002	2003	2004	2005
Air, certificated carrier
Domestic operations	8,633	10,118	10,185	7,746	5,742	5,047	4,932	4,671	4,564	4,558	4,444	4,382	4,183	4,166	4,123	4,049	3,883	3,890	3,596	3,463	3,297	3,182
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	3,833	3,965	3,920	3,872	3,428	3,523
Highway^a
Passenger car	4,495	4,455	4,841	4,743	4,348	4,269	3,811	3,654	3,703	3,785	3,771	3,721	3,688	3,657	3,637	3,672	3,589	3,597	3,600	3,570	(R) 3,509	3,458
Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle	N	N	6,810	6,571	5,709	4,971	4,539	4,277	4,256	4,275	4,345	4,538	4,541	4,564	4,569	4,612	4,509	3,985	4,121	4,452	(R) 4,452	4,452
Motorcycle	b	b	2,500	2,354	2,125	1,896	2,227	1,917	1,990	2,063	2,135	2,274	2,271	2,273	2,273	2,273	2,273	2,049	1,969	1,969	(R) 1,969	1,969
Transit motor bus	N	N	N	N	2,742	3,389	3,723	3,767	4,038	3,944	4,162	4,155	4,196	4,228	4,133	4,044	4,147	3,698	3,550	3,514	3,572	3,393
Amtrak	N	N	N	2,383	2,148	2,089	2,066	1,978	2,035	2,023	1,935	1,838	2,153	2,200	2,138	2,107	2,134	2,100	U	U	U	U

KEY: Btu = British thermal unit; N = data do not exist; P = revised; 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.

NOTE

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:

1960-80: Air Transport Association, Internet site http://www.airlines.org as of Aug. 30, 2004.

1985-2005: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of Airline Information, Air Carrier Traffic Statistics (Washington DC: Annual December issues).

Fuel consumed:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of Airline Information, Internet site http://www.bts.gov/oai/fuel/fuelyearly.html as of Apr. 25, 2007.

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.

1995-2005: 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.

1995-2005: 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.

1990-2005: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual issues), table VM-1.

Transit motor bus:

American Public Transportation Association, 2006 Public Transportation Fact Book (Washington, DC: Annual issues), tables 10 and 27, and similar tables in earlier editions.

Amtrak:

Amtrak, State and Local Affairs Department, personal communication.