Table 5-10. Energy Intensities of Domestic Freight Modes
Energy intensity is the amount of energy used in producing a given level of output or activity, in this case transportation. Since 1980 the energy intensity of both trucking and freight rail have improved. However, over the same period, domestic freight water transportation, measured by Btu per ton-mile, has become more energy intense.
 |
1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway (Btu per vehicle-mile) | 24,757 | 22,795 | 23,443 | 23,016 | 23,432 |
| Railroad (Class I) (Btu per freight car-mile) | 18,742 | 16,619 | 14,917 | 15,108 | 15,003 |
| Railroad (Class I) (Btu per ton-mile) | 597 | 420 | 352 | 346 | 345 |
| Water (Btu per ton-mile) | 358 | 387 | 473 | 460 | 471 |
Key: Btu = British thermal unit
Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 24 (Oak Ridge, TN: 2004).
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