Washington's Energy Indicators

18.  Transportation Sector Trends — Transportation Sector Energy Intensity

 
Data Note: Includes heavy-duty trucks.

SPURRED BY HIGH GASOLINE PRICES, VEHICLE FUEL EFFICIENCY INCREASED BY MORE THAN A THIRD BETWEEN 1975 AND 1985. INCREASING POPULARITY OF VANS, TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES IN THE 1990S MAY HAVE PUT AN END TO THAT TREND.

Like other sectors, Washington’s transportation sector has become more energy efficient over the years. The average efficiency of Washington’s vehicle fleet grew from 12.5 miles per gallon in 1975 to 14.2 MPG in 1980 and 17.0 MPG in 1990. However, fifteen years of improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency appear to have come to an end in the 1990s. In fact, fuel efficiency for new vehicles has declined since the mid-1980s, when federal fuel standards were last tightened. The primary reason is the increasing popularity of minivans, pickups, and sport-utility vehicles.

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