Energy consumption for transportation in the U. S

Technical Report · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1972

OSTI ID:7332871

Hirst, E

Historical, present, and possible future patterns of energy consumption in the transportation sector are examined for inter-city freight and passenger traffic and for urban passenger traffic. The energy-efficiencies among the various transport modes are quite variable. Airplanes are relatively inefficient; cars and trucks are slightly more efficient; and railroads, waterways, pipelines, and buses are quite efficient. The energy implications of changes in the modal mixes for freight and passenger transport are explored using two hypothetical futures. The energy required, directly, and indirectly, for automobiles in American society is also computed. This includes the energy needed to produce gasoline; to manufacture and sell cars; to repair, maintain, and insure cars; to provide replacement equipment; and to build and power cars. When total automotive energy consumption is considered the automobile accounts for about 25 percent of toal U.S. energy consumption. This is equivalent to 7.1 miles/gallon for the average American car. 13 tables.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 7332871
• Report Number(s): ORNL-NSF-EP-15
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320200* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Transportation
AIRCRAFT
AUTOMOBILES
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM
RAIL TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
USA
VEHICLES