Improved vehicle fuel economy helps fall in US gas usage, according to report.
Fewer visits? Image: Commons |
The University of Michigan's research has found that the number of gallons of gasoline used in the US per person, driver, vehicle and household has fallen to below 1984 rates when the first study was conducted.
In 2013, gallons of gasoline consumed per person (392) fell 17% from 2004, gallons used per driver (583) fell 16%, and gallons used per household (1,011) fell 19%. 2004 was the year of maximum consumption for those categories.
2003 was the peak consumption year for gallons used per vehicle, but the study has revealed that this figure has dropped by 14%, with light vehicles decreasing 11% despite a population growth of 8% between 2004 and 2013.
The 1990s was the last time the number of vehicles and distance driven per person, driver, vehicle and household were at their lowest.
"The declining number is driven not only by economic factors, but also rises in telecommuting and use of public transportation," according to Michael Sivak of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. “The reductions in the fuel-consumption rates reflect, in part, the added contribution of the improvements in vehicle fuel economy.”