Drivers of passenger energy consumption

  • The energy consumption for passenger increased by 29 Mtoe between 2000 and 2019 at EU level and then fell by 36 Mtoe between 2019 and 2021. As a result, this consumption was 7 Mtoe lower in 2021 than in 2000.
  • The reduction of consumption between 2019 and 2021 is mainly due to the effect of traffic drop (-53 Mtoe). The lower use of public transport (modal shift) and the lower rate of occupancy of public transport, induced by social distancing measures, ("other effects") contributed to raise consumption by 4 and 13 Mtoe, respectively) . There was no quantifiable energy savings in passenger transport over this period.

Decomposition of energy consumption for passengers (EU) (2019-2021)


  • Previously, between 2000 and 2019, the increase of passenger transport consumption was mainly explained by the traffic growth (52 Mtoe), partially counterbalanced by energy savings (26 Mtoe). Modal shift and other effects marginally pushed up the consumption, by 1 and 2 Mtoe respectively.

Decomposition of energy consumption for passengers (EU) (2000-2019)