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Let me start by saying that I’m a huge fan of mass transit, as we can’t keep expanding highways to fix traffic congestion in our metropolitan areas. Mass transit also helps to address housing affordability by getting folks to and from their jobs efficiently. That said, I was amazed when I learned that electric vehicles are actually much more efficient than electric mass transit trains when measured by watt-hour per passenger mile.
This fascinating fact hasn’t gone unnoticed by social media. Here’s a recent, thoughtful post on Reddit by rgod8855 with a ton of responses debating figures and assumptions.
“Have electric vehicles changed the narrative of using public transit in order to reduce environmental impact?
This came up when four of us were about to go to a baseball game 35 miles away. I assumed I would be taking us all in my Tesla Model Y until a group member suggested taking the train in since it stops right by the ballpark. As we were weighing the pros and cons, I said I think energy wise, it’s better to take the EV. There was heavy disagreement to this statement.
I did some basic checking on the energy usage for light rail trains and estimates of energy usage, though varying greatly, seem to be around 400-500 Wh/passenger mile for a middle figure. For my 35-mile round trip, I figure the energy usage would be 70 mi/4(mi/kWh) or 17.5 kWh. Since four of us are making the trip, that is 280 passenger-miles. Divide that into 17500 Wh gives the energy usage of 62.5Wh per passenger-mile. That is way smaller then a light rail train energy usage.”
FireOpalCO responded with an interesting philosophical comment:
“The train would’ve been running whether you took it or not, so if you took the car you’ve used more energy than if you took the train.”
FANGO responded with:
“No, this is a dumb argument, the same as ‘the oil is already being pumped, you might as well burn it,’ or any other product. People say this all the time to justify wasteful behavior.
If more people take the train, there will be more train lines and train stops. If nobody does, the train will stop running. Same with cars, same with roads, same with oil.”
tm3_to_ev6 changed the conversation to other negatives surrounding cars:
“Cars are cars. Taking away tailpipe emissions does not remove the numerous other negative externalities associated with excessively car-centric infrastructure, especially needlessly wide freeways and oversized parking lots.”
Digging into The Numbers
Studies show that the typical U.S. light rail mass transit train consumes about 300 – 600 watt-hours (Wh) per passenger-mile, whereas a typical electric vehicle consumes about 45 Wh per passenger mile. There are many other factors that we discuss later, but the difference in energy consumption is an amazing and unexpected difference.
If you are interested in the details, we lay them out in the next couple of paragraphs. Studies show the average U.S. light rail train consumes 300 – 600 kWh per passenger-mile, with well-used lines landing near the middle of that range and nearly empty trains landing higher. A specific study showed that an electric mass transit light rail system in Cleveland measured at 440 Wh per passenger-mile.
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Let’s look at a typical EV. A Tesla Model Y gets about 350 miles from its 75-kWh battery. With four people in the car, this equates to approximately 54 Wh per passenger mile. For another example, here’s info about how much the Chevy Bolt costs per mile to drive.
Costs and Externalities
When it comes to power consumption, EVs show a clear advantage over mass transit light rail trains. Other considerations like cost and externalities make for an interesting discussion.
The cost to drive is hidden in a lot of variables. Parking often exceeds what a transit rider would pay in fares. An EV consumes electricity at a rate of a few cents per mile, although insurance, depreciation, and maintenance raise true ownership cost toward forty to seventy cents per mile. Transit replaces those variables with a predictable fare. Hidden social costs change the math again. Analysts often place car externalities near five to seven dollars for a ten-mile trip, while similar transit trips add roughly fifty cents to one dollar fifty for the city.
Societal externalities don’t show up on a receipt, although they shape the cities that we all share. Each added car deepens congestion, which steals time from buses and emergency vehicles. EVs cut tailpipe emissions, although non tailpipe pollution remains from tires and brake dust, although reduced from an EV’s regenerative braking. Curbs, loading zones, and wide drive lanes consume scarce frontage that could serve housing or storefronts. Large parking lots sit empty most hours, yet they raise rents and city costs through land and maintenance. Alternatively, transit concentrates travelers, which frees space for safer streets, trees, and homes close to jobs.
A safety comparison completes the picture. Roads filled with cars still create fatalities, injuries, and delays. The United States loses about forty thousand lives each year to traffic crashes, which places a large external cost on every mile traveled. Per passenger mile, light rail and buses record far lower injury rates than private vehicles. Trained operators, dedicated rights of way, and controlled stops reduce risky interactions. Cars place every driver into complex decisions near crosswalks, cyclists, and pedestrians. Families who value the safest odds should lean toward transit for large events.
Cars deliver personal flexibility. Driving an EV lets you leave on your schedule, pick a route that matches your mood, and pack tailgate gear without compromise. Climate controls warm or cool the cabin in the driveway while you finish snacks and plan any stops along the way. If plans change, a quick detour can easily be made. Transit offers a different kind of flexibility that prioritizes ease rather than control. Riders can read, text, or enjoy the ride, arrive without parking stress and cost.
Good News About Stadiums
As a side note, getting back to the stadium scenario, it’s nice to see that many U.S. sports venues are installing legions of EV chargers. Many U.S. venues are quietly turning their parking decks into real charging hubs. Some examples are the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood opened in August 2024 and was designed with more than 300 on-site EV charging stations across its garages, with individual facilities like the West Garage boasting dozens of ports. Raiders fans in Las Vegas gained stadium-run charging in 2024, when Allegiant Stadium installed Blink charging units across multiple lots. The Padres are adding 20 chargers at Petco Park for the 2025 season, extending access on game days and beyond.
Teams are doing this to improve the fan experience, hit sustainability targets, and collect a little extra revenue while vehicles charge during multi-hour events. Access models vary. Intuit Dome advertises EV charging in all official garages, which simplifies game-day planning for drivers. Allegiant says chargers are available to the public on non-event days, while some arenas limit use to event patrons or authorized guests. For drivers, the upside is clear, arrive, park, and leave with meaningful range, avoid a separate charging stop on the way home, and often pay straightforward posted rates.
Please Drop Your Thoughts in the Comments Below
Would secure park-and-ride lots with EV chargers change your choice on game nights?
Which externality bothers you most, congestion delay, tire particles, or land lost to parking lots?
Chris Johnston is the author of SAE’s comprehensive book on electric vehicles, “The Arrival of The Electric Car.” His coverage on Torque News focuses on electric vehicles. Chris has decades of product management experience in telematics, mobile computing, and wireless communications. Chris has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA. He lives in Seattle. When not working, Chris enjoys restoring classic wooden boats, open water swimming, cycling and flying (as a private pilot). You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn and follow his work on X at ChrisJohnstonEV.
Image sources: AI
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Source: torquenews.com
