Disclaimer: Data on this website is the latest available from the named sources in this article and was obtained in April 2020. Auto & General Services Pty Ltd does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data and accepts no liability whatsoever arising from or connected in any way to the use or reliance upon this data.
Quick Stats
- The average rate of fuel consumption of vehicles in Australia was 7.5 km per litre of petrol (or 13.4 L per 100 km)
- Petrol was the most commonly used type of fuel at 51.4%
- Australia consumed a total of 34,170 megalitres of fuel in 2018
Average fuel consumption by type of vehicle
| Vehicle Type | Litres per 100kms |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 10.8L |
| Motorcycles | 5.8L |
| Light commercial vehicles | 12.5L |
| Rigid trucks | 28.6L |
| Articulated trucks | 55.2L |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 21.3L |
| Buses | 28.4L |
| Average | 13.4L |
The average passenger vehicle used 1,366 litres of fuel per year, or 3.7 litres per day. The average passenger vehicle had an average fuel consumption of 10.8 litres per 100 kilometres.
The average motorcycle used 149.3 litres of fuel per year, or 0.4 litres per day. The average motorcycle had an average fuel consumption of 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres.
The average light commercial vehicle used 2,046 litres per year, or 5.6 litres per day. The average light commercial vehicle had an average fuel consumption of 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres.
The average rigid truck used 5,936 litres per year, or 16.3 per day. The average rigid truck had an average fuel consumption of 28.6 litres per 100 kilometres.
The average articulated truck used 43,819 litres of fuel per year, or 120 litres per day. The average articulated truck had an average fuel consumption of 55.2 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres.
The average non-freight carrying truck used 2,760 litres of fuel per year, or 7.6 litres per day. The average non-freight carrying truck had an average fuel consumption of 21.3 litres per 100 kilometres.
The average bus used 7,638 litres of fuel per year, or 20.9 litres per day. The average bus had an average fuel consumption of 28.4 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres.
The average vehicle in Australia used 1,797 litres of fuel per year, or 4.9 litres per day. The average vehicle had an average fuel consumption of 13.4 litres per 100 kilometres.
Fuel consumption by type of fuel
| Fuel Type | Litres per 100kms |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 10.8L |
| Diesel | 18.4L |
| LPG/CNG/dual fuel/hybrid and other | 12.9L |
Petrol saw the lowest average litres consumed per 100 kilometres, making it the most efficient fuel in Australia in 2018. Diesel was the least efficient fuel in 2018 at 18.4 litres per 100 kilometres.
Total amount of fuel used in Australia by vehicle type
| Vehicle Type | Petrol in megalitres | Diesel in megalitres | LPG/CNG/dual fuel/ hybrid/other in megalitres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 15,635 | 3,097 | 754 |
| Motorcycles | 128 | 0 | 0 |
| Light commercial vehicles | 1,728 | 4,669 | 140 |
| Rigid trucks | 16 | 2,920 | 3 |
| Articulated trucks | 0 | 4,369 | 0 |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 0 | 66 | 0 |
| Buses | 0 | 544 | 60 |
| Total | 17,548 | 15,665 | 957 |
Petrol was the most commonly used type of fuel in Australia during 2018 at 51.4% and was predominantly used by passenger and light commercial vehicles.
Diesel was the second most used type of fuel used in Australia during 2018 at 45.8% and was predominantly used by light commercial vehicles and articulated trucks.
Total fuel consumed by vehicle
| Vehicle Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 19,486 |
| Motorcycles | 128 |
| Light commercial vehicles | 6,537 |
| Rigid trucks | 2,939 |
| Articulated trucks | 4,369 |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 66 |
| Buses | 644 |
| Average | 34,170 |
State comparison
New South Wales
| Fuel Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,487 |
| Diesel | 4,136 |
| Other | 160 |
| Total | 9,782 |
Number of registered vehicles in New South Wales in 2018 was 5,586,547. The average vehicle in New South Wales used 1,750 litres on average per year, or 4.8 litres a day. Petrol made up 56% of the total fuel used in New South Wales, diesel made up 42% and other fuels such as LPG/CNG/dual fuel and hybrid fuel made up the remaining 2%.
Victoria
| Fuel Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,534 |
| Diesel | 3,904 |
| Other | 427 |
| Total | 8,865 |
Number of registered vehicles in Victoria in 2018 was 4,839,222. The average vehicle in Victoria used 1,831 litres on average per year, or 5 litres a day. Petrol made up 51% of the total fuel used in the Victoria, diesel made up 44% and other fuels such as LPG/ CNG/dual fuel and hybrid fuel made up the remaining 5%.
Queensland
| Fuel Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,634 |
| Diesel | 3,791 |
| Other | 156 |
| Total | 7,581 |
Number of registered vehicles in Queensland in 2018 was 4,043,013. The average vehicle in Queensland used 1,875 litres on average per year, or 5 litres a day. Petrol made up 48% of the total fuel used in the Queensland, diesel made up 50% and other fuels such as LPG/CNG/dual fuel and hybrid fuel made up the remaining 2%.
South Australia
| Fuel Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,233 |
| Diesel | 1,029 |
| Other | 132 |
| Total | 2,394 |
Number of registered vehicles in South Australia in 2018 was 1,386,196. The average vehicle in South Australia used 1,725 litres on average per year, or 4.7 litres a day. Petrol made up 52% of the total fuel used in South Australia, diesel made up 43% and other fuels such as LPG/CNG/dual fuel and hybrid fuel made up the remaining 5%.
Western Australia
| Fuel Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,813 |
| Diesel | 2,167 |
| Other | 68 |
| Total | 4,048 |
Number of registered vehicles in Western Australia in 2018 was 2,215,147. The average vehicle in Western Australia used 1,827 litres on average per year, or 5 litres per day. Petrol made up 45% of the total fuel used in Western Australia, diesel made up 54% and other fuels such as LPG/CNG/dual fuel and hybrid fuel made up the remaining 1%.
Tasmania
| Fuel Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 426 |
| Diesel | 314 |
| Other | 4 |
| Total | 744 |
The number of registered vehicles in Tasmania in 2018 was 474,951. The average vehicle in Tasmania used 1,566 litres on average per year, or 4.3 litres per day. Petrol made up 57% of the total fuel used in Tasmania, diesel made up 42% and other fuels such as LPG/CNG/dual fuel and hybrid fuel made up the remaining 1%.
Northern Territory
| Fuel Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 127 |
| Diesel | 197 |
| Other | 1 |
| Total | 325 |
The number of registered vehicles in Northern Territory in 2018 was 163,237. The average vehicle in the Northern Territory used 19,990 litres on average per year, or 5.5 litres per day. Petrol made up only 39% of the total fuel used in the Northern Territory, diesel made up 61% and other fuels such as LPG/CNG/dual fuel and hybrid fuel made up less than 1%.
Australian Capital Territory
| Fuel Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 294 |
| Diesel | 128 |
| Other | 9 |
| Total | 431 |
The number of registered vehicles in the Australian Capital Territory in 2018 was 304,455. The average vehicle in the Australian Capital Territory used 1,415 litres on average per year, or 3.8 litres per day. Petrol made up 68% of the total fuel used in the Australian Capital Territory, diesel made up 30% and other fuels such as LPG/CNG/ dual fuel and hybrid fuel made up the remaining 2%.
Total fuel consumption
| Fuel Type | Total fuel in megalitres |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,548 |
| Diesel | 15,665 |
| Other | 957 |
| Total | 34,170 |
Historical Comparison
Litres per 100 kilometres
| 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 11.3 | 11.1 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 10.8 |
| Motorcycles | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.8 |
| Light commercial vehicles | 13 | 12.6 | 12.1 | 12 | 12.5 |
| Rigid trucks | 28 | 28.7 | 28.4 | 28 | 28.6 |
| Articulated trucks | 56.2 | 57.7 | 56.9 | 56.3 | 55.2 |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 29 | 22.6 | 22 | 25.6 | 21.3 |
| Buses | 29.5 | 29 | 28.8 | 27.8 | 28.4 |
| Total vehicles | 13.8 | 13.7 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 13.4 |
Passenger vehicles
From 2010 to 2016 there was a steady decrease in the average amount of litres consumed per 100 kilometres for passenger vehicles, however from 2016 to 2018 there was a slight increase by 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres.
Motorcycles
From 2010 to 2016 there was a steady decrease in the average amount of litres consumed per 100 kilometres for motorcycles, however from 2016 to 2018 there was a slight increase by 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres.
Light commercial vehicles
From 2010 to 2016 there was a steady decrease in the average amount of litres consumed per 100 kilometres for light commercial vehicles, however from 2016 to 2018 there was an increase by 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres.
Rigid trucks
From 2010 to 2012 there was an increase in the average amount of litres consumed per 100 kilometres for rigid trucks. From 2012 to 2016 there was a 0.7 litre decrease, but from 2016 to 2018 there was another increase by 0.6 litres per 100 kilometres.
Articulated trucks
From 2010 to 2012 there was a 1.5 litre increase in the average amount of litres consumed per 100 kilometres for articulated trucks, however from 2012 to 2018 there was a steady decrease of 2.5 litres per 100 kilometres.
Non-freight carrying trucks
From 2010 to 2014 there was a steady decrease in the average amount of litres consumed per 100 kilometres for non-freight carrying trucks, however from 2014 to 2016 there was an increase of 3.6 litres per 100 kilometres. From 2016 to 2018 there was another decrease of 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres.
Buses
From 2010 to 2016 there was a steady decrease in the average amount of litres consumed per 100 kilometres for buses, however from 2016 to 2018 there was a slight increase by 0.8 litres per 100 kilometres.
Total vehicles
From 2010 to 2014 there was a steady decrease in the average amount of litres consumed per 100 kilometres for all vehicles, however from 2014 to 2018 there was a slight increase by 0.1 litres per 100 kilometres.
