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Canadian Vehicle Survey 2005, Summary Report

This is an archived version of this report.
Please refer to the latest version of the
Canadian Vehicle Survey 2007, Summary Report.

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Highlights

The following estimates are based on 2005 data from the Canadian Vehicle Survey:

  • Approximately 18 million light vehicles, 320,500 medium trucks and 295,000 heavy trucks were in scope for the CVS, totalling about 18.6 million vehicles on Canadian roads.

  • These vehicles travelled approximately 315.3 billion vehicle-km and 525.7 billion passenger-km in 2005, representing increases of about 2 percent and 10 percent, respectively, over data for the year 2000.

  • On-road vehicles in Canada consumed approximately 29.5 billion litres of gasoline and 10 billion litres of diesel.

  • Average gasoline consumption rates for light vehicles and medium trucks were 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres (L/100 km) and 26.5 L/100 km, respectively. Diesel consumption rates for medium and heavy trucks were 26.6 L/100 km and 35.1 L/100 km, respectively.

  • A quarterly analysis shows that vehicle fuel efficiency seems to improve during the warmest months of the year. The major increase in gasoline prices late in the summer of 2005 appears to coincide with a change in driving habits and fuel consumption, even though fluctuations in fuel prices usually have very little short-term influence over drivers. However, since fuel consumption data are available for only eight consecutive quarters and since some data limitations exist, it is not currently possible to show a definite relationship between price increases at the pump and a change in driving habits, using CVS data.

  • The number of light trucks in the light vehicle fleet seems to have increased since 2000.

  • CVS data indicate that fuel consumption in L/100 km for light trucks is higher than for passenger cars.

  • Despite the fact that "newer vehicles tend to be more fuel efficient than older models,"³ CVS estimates show relatively little impact of vehicle age on gas consumption in L/100 km for light vehicles. However, vehicle age appears to affect the rate of diesel consumption among heavy vehicles.

  • According to the CVS, the configuration of heavy vehicles and their type of activity could affect diesel consumption rates. In the latter case, a heavy truck involved in for-hire trucking consumes about 34.0 L/100 km, compared with 37.3 L/100 km in the case of private trucking. Owner-operators also get better fuel efficiency from their vehicles and have diesel consumption rates of 35.8 L/100 km.

  • The CVS also shows that fuel consumption in L/100 km is better during highway driving for all types of vehicles. Similarly, vehicles are more fuel efficient during long-distance trips.

  • The driver's age and gender does not seem to affect the fuel efficiency of gas-powered vehicles.

Considerations When Analysing CVS Results

The Canadian Vehicle Survey is not a census. Despite Statistics Canada's efforts to maintain high standards of quality at all stages of the process, the estimates in this survey, as in all surveys, are inevitably prone to some degree of error.

Indicators are used to identify the quality of the estimates presented in this report. While the quality of CVS data is generally good, caution should be exercised when analysing the information. Readers should also bear in mind that the true value is likely within a confidence interval of the survey estimate.

Please refer to Annex A for information on the sources of errors affecting estimate quality and considerations for data analysis.

³ OEE, oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/personal/buying/vehicle-selection-tips.cfm.

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