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New Study Suggests Flying Is Greener Than Driving
New submitter Desert Leap writes: The Washington Post reports a new study that suggests it is more environmentally friendly to fly rather than to drive. Analysis from the University of Michigan Transport Research Institute found that driving uses 57% more energy than flying per passenger mile. This is largely due to the number of occupied plane seats increasing while passengers per car decreased. Of course, "results may vary" for individual trips depending on many factors, such as distance flown (long flights are more fuel efficient) and the kind of car, and how many riders. One factoid is interesting: it takes 4,211 BTUs per person mile to drive. This number will fall as we switch over to electric vehicles. For example, a Tesla Model S takes about 1,100 BTUs per vehicle mile. Will future aircraft be able to also make the switch to electric?
Using the same logic, using a but or going by train is also more efficient since the many seats versus a couple is also true.
Nothing really too new. If you take the bus and the bus is full you are more efficient for the work being performed.
Most of the energy goes into moving the actual machine, only a small fraction goes into moving its content.
That is why the Train shipping companies advertise 1 gallon of fuel, for 500 miles per Ton of goods.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Either compare flying a small plane to driving a car, or compare a huge bus to a plane.
Being Robbed by the TSA, Groped and Accosted, or Simply not allowed to fly at all because of your views on social media.
I'd rather drive or walk...
That's not very forward looking....
People said the same thing about cars & range.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
I would think it also depends on when the plane is flying. If it's entire trip is during daylight hours, and it's above the clouds as most larger aircraft flights are, then you may be able to use solar panels in place of the majority of the batteries. Plus you won't have to carry the weight (as much) in fuel.
It's probably not a practical solution currently. But as efficiencies increase, it's at least feasible it may be at some point in the future.
Show me the math for both ICE cars and Tesla, from well-head to road. Because generating electricity takes energy, and there are losses in the distribution system, and the charging systems are not 100% efficient either. Of course, getting oil out of the ground, refining it into gasoline, and moving the gasoline to refueling stations takes energy, too. Show me the end-to-end math, and then let's talk. A 4:1 advantage for the Tesla seems optimistic to me.
I have the same gripe with calling Teslas "zero emission vehicles". They are not. They are "displaced emission vehicles". Of course, it is easier to control pollution at a single point, and pollution controls scale up quite well, so the overall emissions are less for a Tesla versus an ICE vehicle. But don't claim the emissions are zero, they are just someplace else. (And I will grant that there are benefits to simply displacing emissions -- the Los Angeles valley, for instance, is a bowl, and so pollution tends to hang around in the air for a long time certain months of the year. Displacing the emissions outside the bowl has it's own benefits.)
Flying costs a lot more, and involves a period of being completely at the mercy of the no-background-check employees of the TSA.
I don't care if it is green. The TSA is horrible. Get rid of it, and I might fly again. Until then, I will spring for the road trip.
I also value my time, which I don't want to waste on a 200 mile trip waiting in line, and security theater
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Please direct your attention towards the front of the cabin as our flight attendants demonstrate the safety features of this craft.
In the event of pressure loss, an oxygen mask will drop from the overhead compartment. Please pull the mask to extend it completely and start the flow of oxygen, then place the mask over your nose and mouth and place the strap around your head to hold it in place. Put on your mask before helping children or others in need of assistance.
In the event of power loss, bicycle pedals will extend from the floor of the cabin. Please pedal as if our lives depended on it
If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
I have the same gripe with calling Teslas "zero emission vehicles". They are not.
True, but unlike petrol driven cars they could be. Both renewable and nuclear power power are zero carbon methods of generating power and while renewable has issues with cost, limited locations and variability if it were supplemented by nuclear we could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact if you charge your Tesla in France then 75% of that power comes from nuclear so you might not be zero emission but you will be getting close.