ACEEE
Transportation Program
Goal: Foster innovative technologies, programs, and policies
for increasing motor vehicle fuel economy, reducing emissions, and
enhancing overall transportation system efficiency.
ACEEE is a leader in efforts to improve the energy efficiency
of cars and trucks. We conduct engineering and economic studies
of the potential for efficiency improvement and provide advice regarding
the development of programs and policies to realize this potential
in the market. We advocate a balanced set of measures, including
stronger Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, federal
and state incentives for greener vehicles, and consumer education
and other market creation initiatives, as well as research and development
of advanced technologies. We take an integrated approach to the
issue, addressing how fuel efficiency relates to emissions, safety,
clean production, and renewable fuels.
We seek to encourage manufacturers to produce high-efficiency,
low-pollution vehicles and also to motivate consumers to purchase
them. A cornerstone of this effort is ACEEE's Green Book®:
The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks and its website:
www.Greenercars.com. We
are directly engaging the auto industry concerning marketing challenges
for efficient vehicles. We are collaborating with other public interest
groups on a nationwide Clean Car Campaign. This effort includes
promoting purchases of greener vehicles by government and private
fleets as well as individual consumers and also advocating the simple,
empowering message that people should "choose the cleanest and most
efficient vehicle that meets their needs and fits their budget."
ACEEE is directing attention to transportation efficiency in freight
movement as well, investigating both technologies to reduce the
fuel consumption of trucks and opportunities to enhance the energy
efficiency of the freight network as a whole. We are also beginning
new work to assess the potential energy savings of travel demand
management strategies, including land use policies, public transit
investments, and market-based measures. We support reform of parking
subsidies, equitable changes in taxation and transportation user
fees, and creative strategies such as pay-as-you-drive auto insurance
that can motivate more efficient mode and vehicle choices.
Selected Publications:
Deliberating Diesel: Environmental, Technical, and Social Factors
Affecting Diesel Passenger Vehicle Prospects in the United States
(view full report)
Greener Fleets: Fuel Economy Progress and Prospects (view
full report)
An Analysis
of Traffic Deaths by Vehicle Type and Model
(view full report)
Rating the
Environmental Impacts of Motor Vehicles: ACEEE's Green Book®
Methodology, 2004 Edition (view executive
summary)
Technical Options for Improving the Fuel Economy of U.S. Cars
and Light Trucks by 2010-2015 (view executive
summary)
