COMPARATIVE ENERGY COSTS OF URBAN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Several urban transportation systems are compared on the basis of the energy resources consumed in the manufacture of their vehicle and guideway systems and in their operation. Four systems, the auto, bus, rapid rail and personal rapid transit, are extensively analysed, while the energy characteristics of dial-a-ride systems and the motorcycle are estimated. Analyses of bicycling and walking are also included for a comparison of motorized modes with human propulsion systems. For each system the energy required to manufacture a vehicle, the energy required to manufacture the guideway, and energy of operation are estimated. The manufacture contributions are amortized over component lifetimes and added to the energy of operation to give an estimate of total energy consumed per vehicle-mile by a system. To provide a measure of the potential energy efficiency of the systems, the average energy consumed per available seat-mile is calculated to compare the systems when they are operating at capacity. An example containing assumed average occupancy levels gives a more realistic comparison on the basis of energy consumed per passenger-mile. (A) /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Maxwell House, Fairview Park
  Elmsford, NY  United States  10523
• Authors:
  • FELS, M F
• Publication Date: 1975-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 297-308
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research /UK/
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Pergamon Press, Incorporated

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Automobiles; Benefit cost analysis; Bicycles; Buses; Costs; Durability; Economic efficiency; Energy; Energy conservation; Energy consumption; Guideways; High occupancy vehicle lanes; Manufactures; Manufacturing; Motor vehicles; Motorcycles; Operating costs; Paratransit services; Personal rapid transit; Public transit; Railroads; Rapid transit; Right of way (Traffic); Transportation planning; Urban areas; Urban transportation; Vehicles; Walking
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• Old TRIS Terms: Energy intensiveness; Railway
• ITRD Terms: 1057: Air transport network; 1211: Bicycle; 1272: Bus; 1243: Car; 1020: Container (freight); 224: Cost; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 5910: Durability; 5911: Efficiency; 213: Energy; 212: Energy conservation; 639: Exclusive right of way; 3647: Manufacture; 221: Operating costs; 1181: Rapid transit system; 313: Urban area; 758: Walking
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Finance; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads; Research; Society; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00134054
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 23 1981 12:00AM