POTENTIAL OF THE DUAL-MODE TRANSIT SYSTEM TO CONSERVE ENERGY

The energy efficiency of the dual-mode transit system is compared with that of the following urban passenger transportation vehicles: motorcycle, light truck, passenger automobile, school bus, commercial bus, trolley bus, streetcar, and rail rapid transit vehicle. These modes account for 33 percent of the total energy consumed by the transportation sector in the United States in 1971 and 8 percent of the total energy consumed by the entire country. The automobile consumes 95 percent of urban transportation energy. The transit bus and rail rapid transit vehicles are from 2.4 to 2.6 times as efficient as the standard-sized passenger automobile, but, because these modes consume only 1.5 percent of the total energy, they have little effect on the energy situaton. The estimate of dual-mode transit efficiency is based on simplified dynamic equations and an assumed vehicle duty cycle. Dual-mode transit is expected to be from 10 to 20 percent less efficient than the transit bus and rail rapid transit vehicle and, by providing a high level of service, has the potential of attracting significant numbers of people who are currently using the energy-intensive automobile. To achieve this promise, a dual mode system must be designed with careful attention to energy-related design details (particularly vehicle weight and must provide the type of service necessary to produce high average vehicle load factors. /Author/

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr170/170-049.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0360859X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Dual Mode Transportation, which is a publication containing the proceedings of a conference conducted by the Transportation Research Board, May 29-31, 1974. 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
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board (TRB)

  Washington, DC   
• Authors:
  • Lieb, John G
• Conference:
  • Conference on Dual-Mode Transportation
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1974-5-29 to 1974-5-31
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 127-134
• Monograph Title: Dual-mode transportation
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 170
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0360-859X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Buses; Conservation; Dual mode transportation systems; Energy; Fuel consumption; Public passenger vehicles; Rapid transit
• Uncontrolled Terms: Transit vehicles
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149273
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 30 1981 12:00AM