Passenger Car Fuel Economy as Influenced by Trip Length

Abstract

Data from the Nationwide Personal Transportation Study (NPTS) and other sources have been used to generate distributions of vehicle miles traveled (VMT), average speed, and fuel consumption as a function of trip length. The typical trip of approximately ten miles in length has been shown to result in a fuel economy that is equal to the average fuel economy achieved for all trips combined. NPTS data on average speed vs. trip length and General Motors data on stops-mile vs. average cycle speed indicate that the major characteristics of the trip that results in a fuel economy equal to the overall fuel economy are an average speed of 24.5 mph and 1.4 stops per mile. The composite of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency city and highway driving cycles is 26.6 mph and 1.4 stops per mile.