Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Transportation Sector Driving Renewable Energy Usage

The transportation sector was a big factor in renewable energy growth in the past decade thanks to growing demand for liquid biofuels.

by Staff
May 29, 2015
Transportation Sector Driving Renewable Energy Usage

Charts via EIA.

2 min to read


Charts via EIA.

Renewable energy accounted for 9.8% of total domestic energy consumption in 2014, making up the largest share of energy since the 1930s, according to an Energy Information Administration report.

The transportation sector was a big factor in renewable energy growth in the past decade. From 2001 to 2014, the transportation industry experienced the largest percentage growth in renewable consumption thanks to growing demand for liquid biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Over the same period usage of renewable energy increased by an average of 5% per year due to growing use of wind, solar, and biofuels.

Ad Loading...

About 13% of the renewable energy in the U.S. is consumed by the transportation sector, and renewables made up nearly 5% of the sector’s energy consumption in 2014.

Electrical power generation still makes up the biggest percentage of renewable use in the U.S. thanks to its use of sources such as hydroelectric and wind power. The industrial sector used 24% of the nation's renewable energy in 2014 because of its use of biomass such as wood and waste as well as its use of biofuels in the manufacturing process.

Hydroelectricity was the largest source of renewable energy in 2014, but it has actually decreased from its highest levels in the mid-to-late 1990s. Wood was the second largest renewable energy source with recent growth due to demand for wood pellets.

For a complete breakdown of the EIA’s report, click here.

More Green Fleet

Rendering of electric vehicles charging beneath a solar-panel canopy, illustrating Inspiration Mobility Group’s acquisition of Electrada assets to expand commercial fleet electrification services.
Green Fleetby News/Media ReleaseJune 17, 2026

Inspiration Mobility Acquires Key Electrada Assets

Inspiration Mobility Group has acquired select assets of Electrada, adding the fleet electrification provider's team, technology, and charging infrastructure development capabilities to its energy management business.

Read More →
wheel geotab image
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Read More →
fleetio coast pay
SponsoredMay 29, 2026

Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?

Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredMay 15, 2026

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.

Read More →
Sketch of chassis cab truck.
Green Fleetby Chris BrownMarch 9, 2026

Startup ZMD Motors Developing Electric Conversion for Ram 5500 Work Trucks

Detroit-based company says it has begun early development of a system to convert internal combustion Ram 5500 chassis-cab trucks to electric power.

Read More →
EV charging symbol
Green Fleetby Chris BrownFebruary 12, 2026

U.S. EV Adoption Is Climbing, but Commercial and Passenger Markets Diverge

New industry group data revealed that light-duty electric vehicle sales are hitting record market share and volumes, while commercial EV volume dipped. What’s driving the fluctuations?

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A side view of the yellow, blue, and red Slate Auto electric pick-up truck and SUV
Upfittingby Martin RomjueDecember 8, 2025

How To Upfit Electric Work Trucks and Vans

The biggest challenge lies in balancing additional equipment and accessories with EV battery capacity and range.

Read More →
Green Fleetby Martin RomjueDecember 4, 2025

How Fleets Can Adjust Approaches To EV Adoption

With the expiration of federal incentives, EV success now hinges less on government policy and more on discounts, battery tech progress, increased range, and broader infrastructure.

Read More →
Panelists on stage at FFC.
Fleet Forwardby Martin RomjueOctober 29, 2025

Despite World Troubles, Forward Thinking Guides Fleets

Fleet operators shared their challenges during an annual conference that embraced the latest advances across all aspects of running private- and public-sector vehicles.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of GM Energy’s vehicle-to-home system showing an electric truck connected to home power storage, the grid, and GM Energy Cloud through the myOwner app.
Green Fleetby News/Media ReleaseOctober 28, 2025

GM Energy Details Partnerships and Targets for Public Charging Build-Out

EVgo, Pilot, ChargePoint and IONNA named; goal is 35k GM-invested DC stalls by 2030, with customer-experience upgrades at sites.

Read More →