THE NEW ZEALAND VEHICLE OPERATING COSTS MODEL

The development of a computer model to predict vehicle operating costs for use in highway economic appraisals is described. Like many smaller, less wealthy countries, New Zealand did not have the capital or resources available to conduct its own research into vehicle operating costs. After an extensive literature review, it was decided to adopt the World Bank's HDM-III Brazil operating cost relationships and an Australian model for passenger car and light commercial vehicle fuel consumption. Depreciation costs were calculated using the results of a New Zealand study that successfully differentiated between the use and age-related components. A computer model was developed that used these relationships to predict vehicle operating costs. It was used to prepare tables of costs for use in manual appraisals and to analyze individual segments of roads. It employs a three-zone, speed-volume model to consider traffic interactions on individual segments of road. For all calculations, the model uses standardized distributions of vehicle speeds. These associate a range of speeds with a mean value to calculate a composite cost that reflects the entire range of speeds of all vehicles traveling in the traffic stream.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1106v2/1106v2-009.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=THE+NEW+ZEALAND+VEHICLE+OPERATING+COSTS+MODEL&author=C.+Bennett&publication_year=1987
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309044545
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record N1106, Fourth International Conference on Low-Volume Roads, Volume 2. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Bennett, Christopher R
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Low Volume Roads, 4th, 1987, Ithaca, New York, USA
• Publication Date: 1987-8

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 83-94
• Monograph Title: FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LOW-VOLUME ROADS. VOLUME 2
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1106
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic conditions; Economic impacts; Forecasting; Low volume roads; Mathematical models; Motor vehicles; Operating costs
• Geographic Terms: New Zealand
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00473135
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309044545
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 30 1987 12:00AM