TRANSPORTATION ENERGY DATA BOOK: EDITION 20 - Center for ...

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The total cost of operating an automobile is the sum of the fuced cost (depreciation, insura?zFe, jkance charge, and license fee) and the variable cost, which is
related to the amount of travel. The cost of operating a car in 1999 (constant 1998 cents) was approximately 57 cents per mile. Gas and oil accountedfor only
9.7% of total costper mile in 1999, which is the lowest in the series histoT.
Table 5.12
Automobile Operating Cost per Mile, 1975-99
Variable costs (constant 1998 cents per mile”) Constant 1998 dollars per 10,000 miles ’
Total cost per
Model
year ’ Gas and oil
Percentage gas and
oil of total cost Maintenance Tires Variable cost Fixed cost Total cost
mile b (constant
1998 cents “)
1975 14.60 26.3% 2.94 2.00 1,954 3,593 5,546 55.46
1977 11.06 20.4% 2.77 1.78 1,560 3,871 5,432 54.32
1979 9.23 17.1% 2.47 1.46 1,316 4,068 5,384 53.84
1980 11.59 21.0% 2.22 1.27 1,508 4,022 5,530 55.30
1981 11.24 19.6% 2.12 1.29 1,465 4,257 5,722 57.22
1982 11.38 20.8% 1.69 1.06 1,414 4,050 5,464 54.64
1983
1984
1985d
1986
10.87
9.72
9.34
6.66
19.9%
19.8%
22.6%
15.1%
1.70
1.63
1.86
2.04
1.11
0.99
0.99
1 .oo
1,368
1,234
1,218
969
4,101
3,682
2,904
3,430
5,469
4,916
4,122
4,400
54.69
49.16
41.22
44.00
1987 6.89 14.7% 2.30 1.15 1,033 3,649 4,682 46.82
1988 7.17 13.6% 2.21 1.10 1,089 4,176 5,265 52.65
1989 6.84 13.6% 2.50 1.05 1,039 3,985 5,024 50.24
1990 6.74 13.2% 2.62 1.12 1,048 4,062 5,110 51.10
1991 8.02 15.4% 2.63 1.08 1,173 4,050 5,223 52.23
1992
1993
1994
6.97
6.77
6.16
13.1%
13.3%
12.0%
2.56
2.71
2.75
1.05
1.02
1.21
1,057
1,050
1,012
4,260
4,045
4,119
5,318
5,094
5,130
53.18
50.94
51.30
1995 6.42 12.3% 2.78 1.50 1,069 4,161 5,23 1 52.31
1996
1997
6.13
6.70
11.5%
12.4%
2.91
2.84
1.45
1.42
1,050
1,097
4,295
4,294
5,344
5,391
53.44
53.91
1998 6.30 11.5% 3.10 1.40 1,080 4,403 5,483 54.83
1999 5.49’ 9.7% 3.23 1.67 1,039 4,635 5,674 56.74
Average annual percentage change
1975-84 -4.4% -6.3% -7.5% -4.9% 0.3% -1.3% -1.3%
1985-99 -3.5% 4.0% 3.8% -1.1% 3.4% 2.3% 2.3%
Source:
American AutomobiIe Association, Your Driving Costs, 1999 Edition, Heathrow, FL, and annual. (Additional resources: www.aaa.com, www.nmzheimer.com)
” Adjusted by the Consumer Price Inflation Index.
’ Based on 10,000 miles per year.
’ Data for 1976 and 1978 are not available.
d Fixed and total operating costs precedin,0 1985 are not comparable with 1985 and later data. Fixed cost depreciation from 1975-84 was based on four years or 60,000 miles. After 1984,
the depreciation was based on six years or 60,000 miles.
’ Fuel cost data used in this c&ulation was l.O98/gallon; which is much lower than most 1999 averages. This calculation was done early in 1999 when prices were
much lower.
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