U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #555: January 26, 2009
Transit Buses are Relying Less on Diesel Fuel
In 1995, over 95% of the fuel used in transit buses was diesel. In 2006, diesel fuel constituted just under 75% of the fuel used by transit buses while other fuel types such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) have become much more prevalent. The use of CNG in buses has grown from less than 2% in 1995 to almost 20% in 2006.
Fuel Consumption Share for Transit Buses, 1995, 2000, and 2006 
* Other non-diesel includes gasoline, LNG, propane, bio/soy fuel, biodiesel, hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, and various blends.
Non-Diesel Fuel Consumtion Share for Transit Buses, 1995, 2000, and 2006 
** Other includes propane, bio/soy fuel, biodiesel, hydrogen, methanol, etanol, and various blends.
Supporting Information
Fuel Consumption Share for Transit Buses, 1995, 2000, and 2006
| Year |
Diesel |
CNG |
Other
Non-diesel* |
| 1995 |
95.5% |
1.7% |
2.8% |
| 2000 |
90.9% |
7.2% |
1.9% |
| 2006 |
74.5% |
19.3% |
6.2% |
|
* Other non-diesel includes gasoline, LNG, propane, bio/soy fuel, biodiesel, hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, and various blends.
Source: American Public Transit Association, 2008 Public Transportation Fact Book, Table 31. |
Non-Diesel Fuel Consumption Share for Transit Buses, 1995, 2000, and 2006
| Year |
CNG |
Gasoline |
LNG |
Other* |
| 1995 |
1.69% |
0.39% |
0.29% |
2.08% |
| 2000 |
7.21% |
0.19% |
1.50% |
0.21% |
| 2006 |
19.26% |
0.32% |
2.72% |
3.19% |
|
* Other includes propane, bio/soy fuel, biodiesel, hydrogen, methanol, etanol, and various blends.
Source: American Public Transit Association, 2008 Public Transportation Fact Book, Table 31. |
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