> About 3 km/l, it seems:
>
> http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/2003/html/table_04_15_m.html
>
> The average European car makes around 20 km/l, the average US car 
> around 10
> km/l. That would need an average of 4 to 8 passengers in the bus.

That's for fuel. One also needs to amortise the cost of capital and 
maintenance. That said, a fullish 50 passenger bus carries about 25 
times the average car load (depending on country ;-) ) so a bus can 
cost about $250,000 - $500,000 and still (perhaps) compare well. A bus 
with 8 wouldn't.

Would be interesting to do a proper comparison with all factors 
included (driver cost, regulations, ...). Presumably the size of 
typical buses reflects the results of such studies, or of market 
forces, which tend to perform such studies of their own volition.


        RM


-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist