Would it be more energy efficient for me to travel from Miami to Seatle by car or by commercial airline?

Question

I am interested in the relative energy efficiency of cars relaltive to commercial airlines

Answer 1

airline!!!

Answer 2

And you don't have a pocket calculator? You can find fuel consumption ratings for all the planes and how far they can go on a tank, how many people they can carry. Are those planes full all the time? No. Sometimes less than 1/3 of capacity. Calculate and your answer is there. hard number facts- check cause I could be out.
Numbers pulled from boeing 747-400 carries 57,285 gallons of fuel and can travel 8336 miles and can carry 420 passengers. If the plane was fully loaded with people it would work out to 3.7 L/100km(60mpg). But what plane is full? So if we take the 100 passengers, that would be 15L/100km, if 50 pass, then 30L/100km.(7.5mpg)
And the airlines are travelling on empty. When they do the advertisements about smog and pollution, a jet is there in the background. So there must be something to it if the airlines are not filing lawsuits.
And they continue to make bigger planes with bigger engines. The airlines work on schedules, not when the plane is full. So does the buslines or boat charters, trains.
Which is greener car or plane? Not which is faster. Emissions are emmissions whether they be up in the stratosphere or at ground level(whether they come out in hours or over several days.

Answer 3

A commercial Airline is more efficient if it is a longer flight because of more high altitude flying. If it is a short flight like Seattle to Portland Oregon and you have a car with reasonable gas mileage then it is better to use your car. Jet fuel however does give off about as much emissions as gasoline. Think of flying on a commercial airline as a really big carpool. So basically it depends on if there are a lot of people on the flight or a few. For a long flight such as you are planning I would say airline is better. Yes a jet uses more volume of fuel and it causes more pollution to create it than a lower octane fuel but in the end it is more efficient because of how many people can be transported with it.

Answer 4

Definitely airline, for two main reasons.

1. You will use up more gasoline driving in a car, and emit more pollution into the air.

2. On an airline, you will be sharing the emissions with 100 other people or more, so per person your emissions will be much less (compared to a car, where you are by yourself).

Answer 5

It depends if you consider whether the jet is going to make the trip with an empty seat if you don't go. If that is true you are being more energy efficient to take the jet. If not you will consume less energy with the car. Being energy efficient is not as easy as most environmentalists want us to think.

Answer 6

I would guess by flying. There's probably a site somewhere to find out that information but I'm not aware of one.


"Though flying is cheaper for a one-time deal, it is not more cost-effective in the long run, and is only convenient and time/energy efficient if you are flying somewhere far away."

Answer 7

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Answer 8

I believe you'd leave a smaller carbon footprint by flying. You'd share the burden with everyone on board.

If you drive, it's just you and your car going 2,000 miles.
Probobley 15 + tanks of gas, plus the continued emissions of a 3 + day trip.

Answer 9

The train would be most energy efficient. Most people just are in to much of a hurry

Answer 10

In order for us to achieve our carbon reduction goals, you will not be allowed to travel without permission.

Answer 11

even though a plane uses more fuel it is carrying far more people than any car or bus can