Commissioned by Topsector Logistiek, CE Delft developed an Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) for freight transport. The EPI shows how much energy is required for a given transport performance, thereby complementing existing indicators for CO₂ emissions and load efficiency.
CE Delft developed a definition and an initial calculation methodology for the EPI and tested it using real-world data for road freight, inland shipping and rail freight. The indicator enables energy performance to be compared both within and between transport modes and provides insight into the effects of factors such as vehicle choice, fuel or energy carrier, load factor, route planning and driving or sailing behaviour. The practical tests show that the EPI can be applied to all three modes, although the availability and quality of data remain important considerations.