Vehicle kilometers of travel and fuel consumption rate for estimating CO2 emission of vehicles in Khon Kaen city

Abstract

The Vehicle Kilometers of Travel (VKT) of each vehicle type can be applied to estimate amount of fuel
consumption and CO2 emission from transport sector of nation. The objectives of this study are to survey and
develop VKT model, fuel consumption rate of each vehicle type as well as to calculate amount of fuel
consumption and CO2 emission from register vehicles in Khon Kaen Province. The target vehicle type
includes motorcycle, sedan and pickup truck. The researchers interviewed the drivers by questioning a
record of odometer, vehicle age, fuel type and fuel consumption of their vehicles at the gas stations and the
bus terminal in Khon Kaen City. The researchers developed the VKT models of each vehicle type, fuel type,
and level of driver’s income, presenting a relation between VKT (kilometer) and vehicle age (year), by
applying the regression analysis. As the results, the developed VKT models reveal that VKT of all types of
vehicle has a high correlation with the age of vehicle as older vehicle has a higher VKT. The ranges of fuel
consumption rate of motorcycle and sedan are during 24.7-25.4 and 11.1-11.5 km/l, respectively. The
calculated amount of CO2 emitted by targeted vehicles is 494,404 t-CO2/year.