BTS | Table 4-20M: Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes (Kilojoule per passenger-kilometer)

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) - Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) - United States Department of Transportation (USDOT, US DOT or DOT)

ABOUT RITA | CONTACT US | PRESS ROOM | CAREERS | SITE MAP

Data and Statistics

Bookstore

Programs

About BTS

Upcoming Press Releases

External Links

BTS Home > Publications > National Transportation Statistics > 2003

Table 4-20M: Energy Intensity of Passenger Modes (Kilojoule per passenger-kilometer)

Excel | CSV

	1960	1965	1970	1975	1980	1985	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Air, 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	2,731	2,703	2,655	^R2,584
International operations	6,031	6,748	7,202	5,550	2,845	3,345	2,980	3,022	2,792	2,687	2,718	2,736	2,693	2,733	2,804	2,703	2,628
Highway^a
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	2,418	2,397	2,384	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	2,975	2,977	2,992	2,995	3,024	2,947
Motorcycle	b	b	1,639	1,543	1,393	1,243	1,305	1,257	1,305	1,352	1,400	1,491	1,489	1,490	1,490	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	2,710	2,651	^P2,719
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 = 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. Passenger-miles were then converted to passenger-kilometers.

^b Included in passenger car.

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.

1.609344 kilometers = 1 mile.

SOURCES

Air:

Certificated air carriers:

Passenger-kilometers:

Air Transport Association, Internet site http://www.air-transport.org/public/industry as of Aug. 30, 2002.

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. 30, 2002.

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: February 2002), tables 30 and 65.

Amtrak:

Amtrak, State and Local Affairs Department, personal communication.