Running Costs for Motor Vehicles

Abstract

<p> A review ·of the basic purposes for, and research work conducted on, estimates of running costs of motor vehicles is presented. An attempt at using available running cost data at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Ontario) to obtain acceptable estimates of running costs is also presented. The purpose of this report was to study, in detail, the purpose and research methods advocated for obtaining running cost estimates with inherent advantages and disadvantages, and includes an attempt at using available data in obtaining such estimates and the problems associated with it. </p> <p> Several of the principal purposes and uses of running cost estimates are addressed. Each purpose is presented and discussed in detail and examples of data obtained to satisfy that purpose are given. In addition, the deficiencies of each data type are identified. Examples of use and application of different data types in obtaining economic assessment for individual organizational and governmental uses are included. </p> <p> A review of literature on running costs for motor vehicles is given. The different data collection and research methods adopted by researchers all over the world are discussed. A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each method with respect to variables included, data collection method, level of data aggregation, impact of time-dependence, techniques and results is presented. </p> <p> An investigation of running cost records available at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications was conducted. An effort at using such records to obtain reliable estimates of running costs was attempted but no conclusive results were obtained. The limitations of using these records to obtain running costs estimates are indicated. </p> <p> The concluding chapter includes recommendations for future research efforts for both short term and long term consideration. </p>