The impact of scale on energy intensity in freight transportation

This paper analyzes energy intensities of ships, diesel–fuelled railways, trucks, and aircraft, using publicly available data. The analysis suggests that differences in operation, not technology, explain most of the variation in energy intensity within and across modes. Among the operational characteristics, most important is the amount of cargo weight transported per vehicle and therefore the scale of the respective transportation system. It is found that each mode has a characteristic envelope in an average energy intensity versus average cargo weight diagram, and estimates of the elasticities of energy intensity with respect to load size are made.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2013.03.008
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920913000515
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13619209
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Gucwa, Michael
  • Schäfer, Andreas
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 41-49
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1361-9209
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft; Cargo ships; Diesel multiple unit cars; Energy consumption; Freight transportation; Gross weight; Load factor; Trucks; Vehicle capacity
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Energy; Freight Transportation; Highways; Marine Transportation; Motor Carriers; Railroads; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01491723
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 3 2013 12:28PM