A holistic approach to compare energy efficiencies of different transport modes

Energy consumption in Indian transport sector is growing at an alarming rate. Energy is consumed both by passenger and freight traffic, and it is generally not possible to apportion energy consumption exclusively to passenger or freight traffic, without making some assumptions on the energy consumption norms of vehicles. In this paper, a holistic methodology, called the Data envelopment analysis (DEA), is used to study the energy efficiencies of transport modes in India without any need for such assumptions. The analysis shows a gradual improvement in energy efficiency of rail transport, while road transport in the late eighties was more efficient than in the nineties. Road transport in 1993–94 was only 63% as efficient compared to rail transport in that year.