U.S. has fewer cars per person than Europe, but still uses twice as much energy

[cawimmer430]

U.S. has fewer cars per person than Europe, but still uses twice as much energy



Here's a shocking statistic: The United States has fewer cars per capita than Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and 16 other countries. Even more dramatic is one of the potential causes: A declining American middle class.

According to an Atlantic report on a new study conduct by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, we're ranked just 25th in the world in per-person car ownership. The actual number stands at 439 cars per 1,000 Americans. Further, the U.S. is an outlier when you compare the number of vehicles per capita to household consumption. While we have one of the highest rates of household spending, car buying is in decline here. It is this disparity that points to the widening income gap in the U.S. as a potential cause of our low rate of car ownership. Indeed, car ownership rates track with the size of a nation's middle class, according to the report.

To add insult to injury, despite our low rates of car ownership, Americans still consume roughly twice as much energy as most Europeans.


Link: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/15/u-s-has-fewer-cars-per-person-than-europe-but-still-uses-twice/

[2o6]

We drive more than you do.

[Morris Minor]

To add insult to injury, despite our low rates of car ownership, Americans still consume roughly twice as much energy as most Europeans.

Only a retard would write something like that.

[cawimmer430]

We drive more than you do.

I can never understand why you guys live 60+ miles away from your workplace instead of moving closer which would mean less driving, fuel costs and more relaxed lifestyle.

[2o6]

I can never understand why you guys live 60+ miles away from your workplace instead of moving closer which would mean less driving, fuel costs and more relaxed lifestyle.

Because our infrastructure doesn't always allow this.


Most of Europe is very old and densely packed.  If everyone moved closer, population density would go up, and that isn't always desirable.

[Cookie Monster]

I can never understand why you guys live 60+ miles away from your workplace instead of moving closer which would mean less driving, fuel costs and more relaxed lifestyle.

You call being packed into cities like sardines a more relaxed lifestyle?!

[2o6]

You call being packed into cities like sardines a more relaxed lifestyle?!

Mindset is totally different over there. What phases Americans, other cultures don't care about.

[giant_mtb]

I can never understand why you guys live 60+ miles away from your workplace instead of moving closer which would mean less driving, fuel costs and more relaxed lifestyle.

Because we can.  Living farther away from work can often be a blessing...makes for a more relaxed lifestyle.

It's called personal preference, bro. 

[Atomic]

It isn't clear as to what types of energy. We have some very large and densely populated cities, i.e., New York, L.A. and all of thier buses, subways, cabs, large police forces and the vehicles they require... we also have large trucks transporting nearly everything going from one destination to other parts of the country and back. Sadly, not unlike much of Europe, the rail system in the states is nowhere like it used to be many generation before the vast majority of us here.

Throughout much of Europe, automobiles tend to be much smaller then ours for European's to better maneuver their cars and park in such congested areas as shown in the photograph. Things are changing here with far more smaller and fuel efficient vehicles, including hybrids.

[TurboDan]

Because we can.  Living farther away from work can often be a blessing...makes for a more relaxed lifestyle.

It's called personal preference, bro. 

European socialist collectivists don't care about personal preference. They care about the collective, not the individual.

[2o6]

European socialist collectivists don't care about personal preference. They care about the collective, not the individual.

I don't think you can make this so extreme on either side.

[Atomic]

Because we can.  Living farther away from work can often be a blessing...makes for a more relaxed lifestyle.

It's called personal preference, bro. 

This is often very true, especially if the drive is scenic and traffic is bearable. One problem I have is the horrible winter weather and hilly terraine (my route to/fro) here in upstate NY. The blessing? The beauty of spring, summer and autumn drives 

Yet, there are many days I wish I could roll out of bed in the morning and being to walk a relatively short distance to work. That too, could be very relaxing by having the option to sleep in later and getting home at a more reasonable hour to unwind.

[sportyaccordy]

Because we can.  Living farther away from work can often be a blessing...makes for a more relaxed lifestyle.

It's called personal preference, bro. 

Yep. Some of us live within biking/walking distance from work. Europeans dont have that choice

[TBR]

Not going to bother reading the article, but a relationship between per person numbers shouldn't be compared with a relationship between per population numbers. That doesn't work.

Also, very few Americans live 60 miles away from their workplaces. Very few. And those who do often take public transport (ex: Dazzle).

My uncle, who lives in a fairly far out suburb in one of the most notoriously spread out metro areas in the country lives 20 miles from downtown.

[veeman]

Looks like the original poster has hit on some nerves :)

I find the statistic very interesting.  My guess is per capita energy consumption is higher in america because the homes are significantly larger.  Air conditioning and heating requirements are significantly more.  The homes are larger because there's relatively lots of space and land outside of a few spots is relatively cheap.  I don't know if the article addresses this, but i believe the average age of americans is less than most of europe due to on average more children per family.  This may also help exlain why there are fewer cars per person in the US.

[Atomic]

Looks like the original poster has hit on some nerves :)

I find the statistic very interesting.  My guess is per capita energy consumption is higher in america because the homes are significantly larger.  Air conditioning and heating requirements are significantly more.  The homes are larger because there's relatively lots of space and land outside of a few spots is relatively cheap.  I don't know if the article addresses this, but i believe the average age of americans is less than most of europe due to on average more children per family.  This may also help exlain why there are fewer cars per person in the US.

I always like a "good" article to spark a debate... or better yet, a meaningful dialogue and not about politics 

[Soup DeVille]

I can never understand why you guys live 60+ miles away from your workplace instead of moving closer which would mean less driving, fuel costs and more relaxed lifestyle.

don't know how it is in Germany (never been), but I have been to England and Scotland. The impression I got there waas that the Brits believe they live in a very, very large place. Asking In a London pub how long I should plan to take a drive up to the Manchester area, and the replies sounded as if I was planning an epic journey: all this nonsense about avoiding the motorways during bank holidays and how to avoid certain problems.

This is a trip of less than 200 miles: the sort of distance the average American will drive for a decent taco in some places, and without a moment's hesitation. The trip was surpridingly boring.

[Galaxy]

"US has fewer cars per person"


Really? 

[Soup DeVille]

"US has fewer cars per person"


Really? 

I find it hard to believe as well, it just doesn't seem to add up.

Oh well.

[mzziaz]

don't know how it is in Germany (never been), but I have been to England and Scotland. The impression I got there waas that the Brits believe they live in a very, very large place. Asking In a London pub how long I should plan to take a drive up to the Manchester area, and the replies sounded as if I was planning an epic journey: all this nonsense about avoiding the motorways during bank holidays and how to avoid certain problems.

This is a trip of less than 200 miles: the sort of distance the average American will drive for a decent taco in some places, and without a moment's hesitation. The trip was surpridingly boring.

This will again come as a complete surprise for most of you guys, but surprise, surprise, Europe is very diverse - even more so than the USA! (believe it or not). When I lived in Prague, everything over 1 mile was far too long for "a decent taco". However, when I lived in the Northern, most remote part of Norway - 200 miles for "a decent taco" could easily happen.

[Morris Minor]

don't know how it is in Germany (never been), but I have been to England and Scotland. The impression I got there waas that the Brits believe they live in a very, very large place. Asking In a London pub how long I should plan to take a drive up to the Manchester area, and the replies sounded as if I was planning an epic journey: all this nonsense about avoiding the motorways during bank holidays and how to avoid certain problems.

This is a trip of less than 200 miles: the sort of distance the average American will drive for a decent taco in some places, and without a moment's hesitation. The trip was surpridingly boring.

Their trepidation is understandable. The roads are packed: 60 million people squeezed into an island that would comfortably fit into many US states, & a short 200 mile journey can take hours.

A few years ago I drove from North Yorkshire to London with wife & kids in my Dad's car. It was an all-day marathon of jams & queues. I was a wreck by the end of it.

[sportyaccordy]

Not sure where they got their numbers from, stats I have seen suggest its not even close

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cars_per_capita

We are #2 only to Monaco

As far as overall consumption, I think a lot of it obv has to do with how huge our houses are, but also the weather and where people live. NE gets as many heating degree days as Iceland. Galveston, TX has as many heating days as Nigeria. I think the only other country w/as much of a weather spread might be China, and they are nowhere near as developed (or conditioned). If we normalized for weather I bet it would be a lot closer

[Atomic]

Not sure where they got their numbers from, stats I have seen suggest its not even close

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cars_per_capita

We are #2 only to Monaco

As far as overall consumption, I think a lot of it obv has to do with how huge our houses are, but also the weather and where people live. NE gets as many heating degree days as Iceland. Galveston, TX has as many heating days as Nigeria. I think the only other country w/as much of a weather spread might be China, and they are nowhere near as developed (or conditioned). If we normalized for weather I bet it would be a lot closer

Journalists can take numbers, mix 'm up, turn them around and upside down just to sell a story.

[MX793]

Not sure where they got their numbers from, stats I have seen suggest its not even close

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cars_per_capita

We are #2 only to Monaco

As far as overall consumption, I think a lot of it obv has to do with how huge our houses are, but also the weather and where people live. NE gets as many heating degree days as Iceland. Galveston, TX has as many heating days as Nigeria. I think the only other country w/as much of a weather spread might be China, and they are nowhere near as developed (or conditioned). If we normalized for weather I bet it would be a lot closer

Indeed.  And not just heating, but also cooling.  How many major cities in Western Europe are located in the middle of a desert or in humid subtropical climate zones?  Places like Phoenix where temperatures are north of 100F for a third of the year.  Or Houston or Orlando where it's in the 90F+ range with high humidity that drives heat indices well into the triple digits.  Some major European cities are in climates like this, but many are in much more temperate climates.

[Raza]

I can never understand why you guys live 60+ miles away from your workplace instead of moving closer which would mean less driving, fuel costs and more relaxed lifestyle.

Because sometimes people work in undesirable places.  Sometimes living near work means a bad school district for your kids.  Sometimes living near work means living in a boring area.  Sometimes living near work means you have to live in a small apartment instead of a big house. 

I don't understand how you don't understand that. 

[MX793]

Because sometimes people work in undesirable places.  Sometimes living near work means a bad school district for your kids.  Sometimes living near work means living in a boring area.  Sometimes living near work means you have to live in a small apartment instead of a big house. 

I don't understand how you don't understand that. 

Or simply not being able to afford to live within a few miles of where you work because rents, property values, or taxes are so high.  US cities are also much more sprawled out, especially as you move west.

[VTEC_Inside]

I can never understand why you guys live 60+ miles away from your workplace instead of moving closer which would mean less driving, fuel costs and more relaxed lifestyle.

Consider this.

I live roughly 45min from Toronto. My house is worth probably 220k, prop tax 3200/yr.

My brother lives in Etobicoke (10min drive to downtown TO barring traffic) and his house cost 340k (not sure about prop tax) even though its about 2/3 the size of mine on a smaller lot. His neighborhood is also more dense.

Go a little further away to Brantford and my dads house is worth about the same as mine while being at least a 1/3 bigger and his prop tax is only 2k ish a year.

That might give you an idea why people just dont move closer (to TO anyway).

[VTEC_Inside]

Also the first thought that jumped into my head here is that if the welfare cheque is mailed to your door then what do you need a car for?

Perhaps the leaches arent that great in number yet, but...

[Onslaught]

I can never understand why you guys live 60+ miles away from your workplace instead of moving closer which would mean less driving, fuel costs and more relaxed lifestyle.

I don't want to live in a city. I want land. And lots of it.

And our cars must work harder to pull our fat asses around.

[GoCougs]

Only a retard would write something like that.

More energy consumption = more happiness, more freedom, more opportunity, more prosperity.