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
Air^R
Certificated air carrier
Domestic operations	8,633	10,118	10,185	7,746	5,727	5,047	4,932	4,671	4,564	4,558	4,444	4,382	4,183	^R4,166	4,123	4,049	3,944
International operations	9,199	10,292	10,986	8,465	^R4,339	5,103	4,546	4,609	4,258	4,099	4,145	4,173	4,108	4,168	4,278	4,123	4,009
Highway^b
Passenger car	4,495	4,455	4,841	4,743	4,348	4,267	3,812	3,654	3,703	3,785	3,771	3,721	^R3,688	3,657	^R3,637	3,672	3,578
Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle	N	N	6,810	6,571	5,709	4,971	4,451	4,277	4,256	4,275	4,345	^R4,538	^R4,541	^R4,564	^R4,569	4,612	4,495
Motorcycle	^a	^a	2,500	2,354	2,125	1,896	1,990	1,917	1,990	2,063	2,135	^R2,274	^R2,271	^R2,273	^R2,273	2,273	2,273
Transit motor bus	N	N	N	N	2,742	3,396	3,723	3,767	4,038	3,944	4,162	4,155	4,196	4,228	^R4,133	^P4,044	U
Amtrak	N	N	N	2,383	2,164	2,094	2,064	1,978	2,035	2,023	1,935	1,838	2,148	2,200	2,138	2,107	2,134

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

^a Included in passenger car.

^b 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.

NOTES: 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, and 138,700 Btu/gallon for transit motor bus and Amtrak.

SOURCES:

Air:

Certificated air carriers:

Passenger-miles:

Air Transport Association, Internet site http://www.air-transport.org/public/industry as of Aug. 22, 2001.

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. 22, 2001.

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: March 2001), tables 30 and 65.

Amtrak:

Amtrak, State and Local Affairs Department, personal communication.