INVESTIGATION OF THE VARIABILITY OF GASOLINE CONSUMPTION AMONG STATES

The determinants of average annual highway gasoline consumption per household and per vehicle at the state level are investigated. A series of gasoline consumption rates is documented, ranging from lows of 588.7 gallons per vehicle (Pennsylvania) and 864.5 gallons per household (New York) up to 900.0 gallons per vehicle (Arkansas) and 222.0 gallons per household (Wyoming). This may be the first study to address the question of why these large differences exist. A two-stage modeling approach was utilized which first estimates a demand equation utilizing key socio-economic variables. The demand equation, which is based on a time series (1966 through 1975) of cross-sectional data, also produces quantitative estimates of state-specific deviations from predicted consumption levels. In the second stage these state-specific ''effects'' are regressed against a set of explanatory variables describing such state characteristics as spatial structure, climate, and employment in agriculture. State household gasoline-consumption rates were found to be negatively related to population density, urbanization, argricultural employment, severe winter weather, and small-car share of the vehicle fleet. They were positively related to the percentage of the population of working age and to the level of tourist activity. (ERA citation 03:040717)

• Corporate Authors:

  Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  P. O. Box 2008
  Oak Ridge, TN  United States  37831

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • Greene, D L
• Publication Date: 1978-4

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 55 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Agriculture; Consumption rates; Demand; Dwellings; Employment; Energy; Fuel consumption; Gasoline; Ground transportation; Households; Population; Population density; Roads; Simulation; Size; Socioeconomic factors; Tourism; Transportation; Urbanization; Vehicles; Weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Transportation systems
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Land transport
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Society; Transportation (General); Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00185812
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Contract Numbers: W-7405-ENG-26
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 29 1979 12:00AM