Analysis of vehicle fuel efficiency and survival patterns for the prediction of total energy consumption from ground transportation in Korea

In this study, correlation between vehicle fuel efficiency and total fuel energy consumption is analyzed to support the energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction master plan in Korea. The background and highlights of recently amended fuel economy regulations and fuel efficiency labeling standards in Korea are also introduced. 18 representative vehicle groups, classified by class, type, size, and fuel, are selected by investigating vehicle distribution statistics based on market penetration and registration data sets in order to reflect and predict total fuel energy consumption in the overall ground transportation sector in Korea. Validity of the vehicle survival patterns modeled and vehicle classification rules are confirmed by comparing national fuel energy consumption statistics to the total amount of fuel consumed by each selected representative vehicle group. The latter figures are approximated from representative number of registrations, weighted average fuel economy, and average annual distance traveled.