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Just using 1990 number, the total U.S. energy used in transportation
was
22.1 x 10^15 BTU = 6.5 x 10^12 kWh (Annual Energy Outlook, U.S.
Department
of Energy, 1992) while the total energy use was 1.9 x 10^13 kWh
(Encyclopedia Britannica Annual energy data tables). This is almost
34%
for transportation. There is also the energy involved in building and
maintaining the cars, trucks, and roads. There are many other energy
costs
involved with long distance transportation. For example, there would
be no
small town in the middle of South Dakota (forget the name) with 50
motels
except for the fact that this is as far as people can travel towards
some
desired destination in a given day. Those motels cost energy to build
and
maintain and would not be needed in a smaller nation where one can
make it
home every night. The total energy involved directly and indirectly
with
transportation in the U.S. is closer to 50% than 10%, therefore this
IS a
major factor when calculating 'real' energy efficiencies.
Rick
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