https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_efficiency_in_transport

that table is thoroughly fascinating. i mean all of them, there’s more than one table on that article

apparently walking is the most energy-efficient transport mode of all?!?!? apart from bicycles

what i find mind-blowing is that airplanes consume approximately the same amount of energy as cars and trains. I mean i can easily see cars and trains being on the same level, but i always thought that airplanes consumed like an order of magnitude more fuel than cars. considering how everybody keeps saying that “airplanes consume so much fuel” and such. crazy.

and also boats are less efficient than i thought? boats consume 16 L/100 km while cars, trains and airplanes consume 6 L/100 km?

  • FishFace@piefed.socialEnglish
    162·
    7 days ago

    Our World in Data has more useful figures that attempt to be comparable. In short, it very strongly contradicts that table.

      • Dyf_Tfh@piefed.zipEnglish
        8·
        7 days ago

        Airplane got a huge correction because emissions at high altitude is worse for the climate.

        This part is a fairly new consensus, at some point air travel was even maybe beneficial for the climate due to formation of cloud cover.

        Energy efficiency is not equivalent to CO2 emissions.

      • vatlark@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        5 days ago

        I didn’t expect that a train would be more efficient than biking. I guess the efficiencies of scale are hard to beat, but still.

        I’m tempted to think the minimal biking infrastructure would help bikes, but infrastructure amortises nicely so probably not.

        • Alberat@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          5 days ago

          yeah idk if infrastructure is accounted for here… also maybe if youre vegetarian or something biking is more efficient