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Usage of energy isn't the only metric by which something can be considered green, as you probably realize but fail to cite. What percentage of buses are powere

Usage of energy isn't the only metric by which something can be considered green, as you probably realize but fail to cite. What percentage of buses are powered by natural gas or ultra-low-sulfer diesel compared to cars, for example? What percentage of buses are hybrid compared to cars? You're using a little bit of information to make a big claim.

jstalin 13y ago
See, for instance, Table 2.10 of the latest federal Transportation Energy Data Book (page 2-14) showing that, to transport one passenger one mile, cars are using less energy than buses. http://cta.ornl.gov/data/tedb31/Edition31_Chapter02.pdf http://cta.ornl.gov/data/tedb31/Edition31_Chapter02.pdf My own analysis of my local (mid-sized city) transit data from the National Transit Database, using actual gallons of fuel spent, and comparing CO2 emissions of the average passenger car, the buses are net adding CO2 to the environment. Indeed, hybrid buses are barely more efficient than traditional diesel buses. The issue isn't full buses, it's the very large number of empty buses that continue to run on non-peak hours on fixed routes. This is why I'm so optimistic about driverless cars. I think it will obviate the need for public transit because we won't be stuck with inefficient fixed route and fixed schedule service.
- abraininavat 13y ago
  My own analysis of my local (mid-sized city) transit data from the National Transit Database, using actual gallons of fuel spent, and comparing CO2 emissions of the average passenger car, the buses are net adding CO2 to the environment. Indeed, hybrid buses are barely more efficient than traditional diesel buses. Would you mind sharing your stats?
- marcosdumay 13y ago
  The buses in that document run with less than 9 passengers on average?! There is either a research error or some gross waste somewhere that must be looked in detail.

jstalin 13y ago

See, for instance, Table 2.10 of the latest federal Transportation Energy Data Book (page 2-14) showing that, to transport one passenger one mile, cars are using less energy than buses. http://cta.ornl.gov/data/tedb31/Edition31_Chapter02.pdf http://cta.ornl.gov/data/tedb31/Edition31_Chapter02.pdf My own analysis of my local (mid-sized city) transit data from the National Transit Database, using actual gallons of fuel spent, and comparing CO2 emissions of the average passenger car, the buses are net adding CO2 to the environment. Indeed, hybrid buses are barely more efficient than traditional diesel buses. The issue isn't full buses, it's the very large number of empty buses that continue to run on non-peak hours on fixed routes. This is why I'm so optimistic about driverless cars. I think it will obviate the need for public transit because we won't be stuck with inefficient fixed route and fixed schedule service.

abraininavat 13y ago
My own analysis of my local (mid-sized city) transit data from the National Transit Database, using actual gallons of fuel spent, and comparing CO2 emissions of the average passenger car, the buses are net adding CO2 to the environment. Indeed, hybrid buses are barely more efficient than traditional diesel buses. Would you mind sharing your stats?
marcosdumay 13y ago
The buses in that document run with less than 9 passengers on average?! There is either a research error or some gross waste somewhere that must be looked in detail.