What is the meaning of empty vehicle miles?

Empty vehicle miles refer to the distance traveled by a vehicle when it is not carrying any passengers or cargo. This can occur when a vehicle is traveling to pick up its next load, returning to its base after completing a trip, or simply driving without any specific purpose. Empty vehicle miles are considered inefficient and wasteful, as they do not generate any revenue or serve any productive purpose. Reducing empty vehicle miles is a key goal for transportation companies looking to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Empty vehicle miles (EVM) is a measure of the number of miles driven by a vehicle without any passengers or cargo. It is typically used to calculate the efficiency of a transportation system or to estimate the amount of fuel wasted due to inefficient routing.

EVM can be calculated by dividing the total number of miles driven by a vehicle by the number of miles driven with passengers or cargo. For example, if a vehicle drives 100 miles and 50 of those miles are driven without passengers or cargo, the EVM would be 50%.

High levels of EVM can indicate an inefficient transportation system or poor routing practices. This can lead to wasted fuel, increased emissions, and longer travel times. Reducing EVM can help to improve the efficiency of a transportation system and reduce its environmental impact.

There are a number of strategies that can be used to reduce EVM, including:

- Improved routing: Using technology to optimize vehicle routes can help to reduce the amount of time that vehicles spend driving empty.
- Increased vehicle utilization: Using vehicles for multiple purposes can help to reduce EVM. For example, a school bus could be used to transport students during the day and to transport community members to and from events in the evening.
- Shared mobility: Encouraging people to share rides or use public transportation can help to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and reduce EVM.