Carbon from Cars: Pollution Impacts of Vehicle Transportation Luke Tonachel Senior Analyst, Transportation Program Natural Resources Defense Council September 16, 2011
Sources of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Transportation Passenger Vehicles = 58% Economy-wide Transportation = 27%* * End use only. If production and refining of petroleum is included, then transportation share would increase to roughly 1/3rd. Source: EPA GHG Emission Inventory Released 2010
U.S. Oil Consumption On-road vehicles use ~80% in Transportation Sector ~70% Consumed in Transportation Data source: EIA, Annual Energy Review, 09/2010 Data source: EIA, Annual Energy Outlook, 2010
We can’t drill our way out of high and volatile gasoline prices. At 19 million barrels per day, the U.S. consumes about a quarter of global oil supply but has only 2 percent of proven reserves.
On-going heavy reliance on oil means more pollution as high carbon sources are exploited. Canadian Tar Sands fuels have higher emissions than conventional fuels. Source: The Pembina Institute (left) and WWF (right)
Vehicle Carbon Footprint Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Gasoline Consumption Upstream (fuel production and delivery) 4 lbs/gal Tailpipe (fuel combustion) 20 lbs/gal Total 24 lbs/gal (11.1 kg/gal) CO2e Vehicle Miles/gallon (mpg) Emissions (gCO2e/mile) Average car 23.8 466 Average light truck 17.5 634 Average light-duty vehicle 20.4 544 New car (2010) 25.8 430 New truck (2010) 19.1 581 New light-duty vehicle (2010) 22.5 493 Average values from NRDC Stock Model. New values from EPA Fuel Economy Trends Report.
History of Stagnating Fuel Economy Cars Combined Light trucks Car standards stuck at 27.5 mpg for 20 years (MY 1990-2010). Data source: EPA Fuel Economy Trends
First-ever CO2 Pollution and New Fuel Efficiency Standards May 2009: Raise fuel economy to 35 mpg and cut carbon pollution to 250 gCO2/mi by 2016. July 2011: Raise fuel economy to 54 mpg and cut carbon pollution to 163 gCO2/mi by 2025.
U.S. Passenger Vehicle Fleet Comprehensive Approach Required A Clean Energy Scenario: Efficiency, Reduced Miles Driven, and Clean Fuels Source: NRDC Analysis
New Vehicle Labels Provide Emissions Ratings (MY2013+)
Transportation pollution forms dangerous ozone and threatens our health. The transportation sector emits nearly 60% of nitrogen oxides that serve as the engine for smog formation and about 40% of volatile organic compounds that fuel and accelerate the smog engine. Highway and off-highway vehicles also emit harmful particulate pollution which can be especially dangerous in concentrated hot spots near ports, for example.
Reduced Driving
Large GHG Reductions Possible from Better Infrastructure and VMT Reduction Strategies Study: Moving Cooler, www.movingcooler.info
VMT Reduction Strategies are Cost-Effective Study: Moving Cooler, www.movingcooler.info
More info: www.nrdc.org/transportation
More info: www.nrdc.org/transportation/infrastructure.asp
Luke Tonachel ltonachel@nrdc.org Thank you. Luke Tonachel ltonachel@nrdc.org