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Table 4-16: Transit Industry Electric Power and Primary Energy Consumptionaand Travel

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  1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 R1998 P1999
Number of vehicles 65,292 61,717 61,298 62,183 75,388 94,368 92,961 96,399 102,251 107,316 115,943 115,874 122,362 126,360 123,855 128,516
Vehicle-miles traveled 2,143 2,008 1,883 2,176 2,287 2,791 3,242 3,306 3,355 3,435 3,467 3,550 3,650 3,746 3,794 3,972
Electric power consumed (million kWh hours) 2,908 2,584 2,561 2,646 2,446 4,216 4,837 4,853 4,716 4,865 5,081 5,068 5,007 4,988 5,073 5,237
Primary energy consumed (thousand gallons)                                
Diesel 208,100 248,400 270,600 365,060 431,400 608,738 651,030 665,158 684,944 678,511 678,226 678,286 692,714 716,952 739,621 763,369
Gasoline and other nondiesel fuelsb 191,900 124,200 68,200 7,576 11,400 45,704 33,906 34,467 37,179 45,672 60,003 60,730 61,213 59,463 52,615 48,694
Compressed natural gas N N N N N N N N 1,009 1,579 4,835 10,740 15,092 23,906 37,268 44,398

KEY: Btu = British thermal unit; kWh = kilowatt hour; N = data do not exist; P = preliminary; R = revised.

a Prior to 1985, excludes commuter rail, automated guideway, urban ferryboat, demand responsive vehicles, and most rural and smaller systems.

b For 1992-96, includes propane, liquid petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas, kerosene, and all other nondiesel fuels except compressed natural gas. 1960 to 1991 data include propane. Series not contiguous between 1991 and 1992.

NOTES: The heat equivalent factors used in Btu conversions are: diesel = 138,700 Btu/gallon; electric = 3,412 Btu/kWh, negating electrical system loses (to include electrical system loses, multiply this conversion factor by approximately three) gasoline = 125,000 Btu/gallon.

In January 2000, the American Public Transit Association changed its name to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The Transit Fact Book is now referred to as the Public Transportation Fact Book.

SOURCE: American Public Transportation Association, Public Transportation Fact Book (Washington, DC: March 2001), tables 42, 46, 65, 66, 67, and similar tables in earlier editions of the APTA Transit Fact Book.