# Combustion road vehicles: Overview

The engines that move most of the world's people and goods

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/overview/

The engines that move most of the world's people and goods What this tile covers Cars, trucks and buses burning petrol, diesel, CNG or LPG. Share of use 20% share of final energy use (2019)

Share of world total final energy consumption (about 435 EJ, calculated: motor systems 13,462 TWh are 53% of electricity, so about 25,400 TWh or 91 EJ, and electricity is about 21% of final energy) that passes through this device or is used by this sector, latest year available. Electricity-based devices use electricity's 21% share of final energy (IEA WEO 2025). Overlaps between devices and sectors are allowed and noted. Road transport used 49.2% of final oil, and oil was 40.4% of final energy in 2019, so about 19.9% (calculated). Excludes road biofuels and gas; overlaps engines. Source: [Key World Energy Statistics 2021](https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/52f66a88-0b63-4ad2-94a5-29d36e864b82/KeyWorldEnergyStatistics2021.pdf), International Energy Agency.

#### Key facts

| **Chain** | Chemical → heat → mechanical (pistons) → kinetic |
|---|---|
| **Typical efficiency** | About 25-30% (petrol engine) |

#### Included from the reference tables

- Petrol car
- Diesel truck and bus
- CNG and LPG vehicles

#### Linked to the material world
[Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/)

#### Also in Transport systems
[EV Electric and hybrid vehicles](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_evs/)[Rail Rail traction](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/)[Jet Aviation propulsion](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/)[Shp Ship propulsion](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/)[Rkt Rockets and human power](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rockets/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: science and limits, value chain, unit economics, engineering methods, equipment and suppliers.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/links/index.md)