Green Transportation Solutions: Clean Cars

A very important step the United States can take to curb global warming and save oil is to require automakers to produce cleaner, more efficient vehicles. Each gallon of gasoline we burn emits between 24 and 28 pounds of carbon dioxide - the most common greenhouse gas - into the atmosphere. By using existing technology to produce vehicles that go farther on a gallon of gas and emit less carbon dioxide pollution, Americans can save billions of dollars, cut global warming pollution, and slash our dependence on oil.

Landmark Action

On July 29, 2011, President Obama announced the outline of new vehicle efficiency standards that would decrease vehicle emissions to 163 grams of carbon pollution per mile in 2025 - equivalent to 54.5 miles per gallon. By 2030 these standards will reduce oil consumption by 1.5 million barrels of oil per day - the amount of oil we imported last year from Saudi Arabia - and save consumers $80 billion at the pump.

As these standards go through the administrative process before being finalized in the summer of 2012, it is critical they maintain a solid foundation that is free of loopholes and auto industry giveaways.

Building on Previous Vehicle Efficiency Standards

The standards for vehicles sold from 2017-2025 build on historic vehicle efficiency standards set by the Obama Administration soon after taking office. Less than one week into his presidency, President Obama fulfilled campaign promises and confirmed that global warming and energy would be top priorities by signing memoranda directing the EPA to re-evaluate the denial of California's clean car waiver and ordering the Department of Transportation to issue fuel economy standards for years 2012-2016.

On April 1, 2010 the EPA and DOT announced a joint national ruling following President Obama's May 19, 2009 directive. These rules marked the first significant increase in CAFE standards since their inception in the 1970's. The national standard raises passenger vehicle fuel economy to a fleet average of 35.5 mpg by 2016 - achieving the goal of the 2007 energy bill four years early - and also creates new national greenhouse gas emissions standards of 250 grams of greenhouse gases per mile.

The standards for 2012-16 vehicles represent the first regulation of greenhouse gasses under the Clean Air Act. They will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 950 million metric tons, equivalent to shutting 247 coal plants or taking 181 million cars off the road for one year. Over the lives of the vehicles sold from 2012-2016 we will save nearly 2 billion barrels of oil. This is more oil than we imported in 2008 from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Libya and Nigeria combined! According to EPA and DOT, new vehicle standards will also create benefits for consumers, the environment and automakers totaling $240 billion.

After decades of stalled action on vehicle fuel efficiency standards, we now have 15 years of progress.

Next Steps

The efficiency standards for vehicles sold from 2017-2025, set by the Environmental Protection Agency, National Highway Safety Administration and the State of California, proposed in the fall of 2011, will likely be finalized in the summer of 2012. Before being finalized, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed standards and ensure that they not include loopholes that would water down the benefits of the program.

As vehicle efficiency standards are increased, it is critical that the procedures used to test vehicles are also updated. Unfortunately, the test procedures currently used to measure vehicle efficiency are stuck in the past, and yield results that are vastly different from what drivers see on the road. For example, the tests assume that you will average 48 miles per hour on the highway and never use your air conditioner. It is critical that updated tests reflect real world vehicle performance. To learn more about why we need truth in testing, read Sierra Club's Truth in Testing Report.

In addition to increasing the efficiency of passenger cars and trucks, we must improve all other aspects of our transportation system. Freight trucks consume 2.3 million barrels of oil per day - second only to cars and light trucks in terms of oil consumption. Emissions from trucks have grown at a rate 3.5 times greater than that of cars. The faster rate of emissions growth in trucks makes it critical to put standards in place that will use innovative technology to reduce dependence on oil and improve our environment. The administration is in the process of finalizing the first-ever efficiency standards for medium and heavy-duty vehicles. These standards are a strong first step towards reducing oil consumption in freight trucks.

Further, it is critical that we invest in a 21st century transportation system that gives people clean, convenient transportation choices, such as transit, biking and walking. We must unleash American ingenuity to develop more efficient vehicles and develop a transportation system that moves us beyond oil.

Personal Solutions

Sierra Club's clean car campaign also promotes actions everyone can take to reduce their carbon footprint. Transportation accounts for a high percentage of most Americans' individual carbon emissions. The good news is that you can take many small steps on a daily basis to do your part in the fight against global warming:

Leave your car at home - take transit if you can. Taking transit will save oil and let you chat on the phone or text safely while you commute.
Bike to work or to the store.
If you're in the market for a new car, buy a hybrid or the most fuel efficient vehicle that meets your needs. Considering each gallon of gas we burn releases 28 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, better fuel economy = a better environment
Check your tire pressure frequently and keep your tires fully inflated. Full tires can improve your fuel economy up to 10%.
Use a GPS - studies show that using a navigational device can reduce miles traveled up to 16%.
If you own a car but do not require it for your daily commute, sell the car and join a car sharing company instead. This cuts down on your insurance, gas, and car payment bills, and significantly cuts down on casual, unnecessary driving.
Find out your car's optimal speed for fuel economy and set your cruise control.
Choose an efficient route for your errand-running so as to avoid multiple trips or excessive miles. If you visit a shopping center and plan to make multiple stops, park your car in the center of the parking lot and walk to your individual destinations.
Roughly 44% of car trips taken are less than 2 miles - burn calories instead of gasoline by taking a walk or riding a bike.
Ask your boss if you can telecommute one or two days per week.
Carpool with co-workers. This can be fun and a great way to wake you up in the morning! If a daily carpool won't work, try one or two days per week.
If you have two cars and are taking a trip, choose the more fuel efficient car.
Shop online instead of making the trip!
Keep your car tuned up.
Don't drive with the windows down at high speeds. This creates drag and reduces your fuel economy.