Source: Adapted from Chapman (1989)

Transportation Modes and Energy

Within the transport sector, there are significant differences between speed, energy costs, mode and type of loads (freight and passengers). Since economies of scale play a crucial role in freight transportation, this is transposed in its lower levels of energy consumption. Overall, transport operators try to seek a compromise between speed (returns in overcoming distance) and energy (costs in overcoming distance). The lowest energy consumption levels are associated with bulk freight traveling at slow speed (like oil) while high levels correspond to passengers or merchandises being carried at high velocities. The first corresponds to a compromise of energy over speed, while the second is a compromise of speed over energy.