Energy Efficiency & Clean Fuels For Utah Driver Education Fueling the Future

Important time in life

What are some of the advantages of being able to drive? What are some of the disadvantages of driving?

Responsible Drivers – Responsible Citizens Being Aware Steward of our Earth Improving our way of Life

The Salt Lake Tribune NATION Tuesday, Sept The Salt Lake Tribune NATION Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005 Bush Urges Americans to Conserve Fuel NEW ORLEANS --- President Bush called on Americans on Monday to conserve fuel and cut nonessential car trips in the wake of two major hurricanes… …Bush also directed federal agencies and departments to cut nonessential travel and urged federal employees to use car pools or mass transit to get to work, Bush said everyone can “pitch in” by “being better conservers of energy”…

How do you get to and from school? How many of you take the bus? How many walk? How many bike? How many drive or have somebody drive you? How many of you share a car?

Salt Lake Tribune Sept. 23, 2005 Alternative Fuel? Try Hay Costly gas makes Utahns creative

It’s a fact…. Europeans make 40 to 50 percent of their trips by walking or biking and about 10 percent by public transit. In contrast, 87 percent of trips in the United States are by car; only 3 percent involve public transit. John Pucher, Rutger University

The Only Way to Go? Despite the advances in electronic “travel”, the use of automobiles continues to grow. Twenty-five years ago a typical American family had one car. Now the family average is 2.5 cars. This number may continue to increase. In many other countries, transit such as rail, bike, boat, and foot travel predominate. But in America, the automobile continues to be the “way to go.”

People Today are Driving More Than Ever Before Air quality has been a national issue for many years and much has been done to lessen the amount of pollution being released in the atmosphere Automobile emissions result from the combustion or burning of fuels ½ of all air pollution and more than 80% of urban air pollution comes from the emissions from the more than 190 million cars and trucks in this country Vehicle emitted pollutants such as hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide pose serious harmful health problems

Principle Pollutants in the Clean Air Act CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) NITROGEN OXIDES (NO,NO2) SMOG (TROPSHERIC OZONE) VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC) PARTICULATE MATTER (DUST, SOOT, AND SMOKE) SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2) LEAD www.utahcleancities.org/airquality

FREEDOM OF CHOICE Various modes of transportation Choice of vehicle driven - options Proper vehicle maintenance Commute in energy/fuel efficient ways Alternative Fuel vehicles

FREEDOM OF CHOICE “We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.” Marian Wright Edelman, Familes in Peril Cambridge, MA: Harvard, 1987

VEHICLE CHOICE Fuel consumption rating Vehicle weight Engine Size Fuel injection system Manual vs. Automatic transmissions Aerodynamic design Ventilation Front-wheel vs All-wheel drive options Tires www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE Tires – inflated, rotated and aligned Oil checked regularly Check wheel alignment Oil and gas filter change (every 3 months) Regular air filter inspection Battery terminal cleaning Brake, power steering, coolant, antifreeze and underbody lubrication Check hoses, belts and wire Emission control System Tune-ups twice a year (at least) Check for leaks

BENEFITS OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE You will save money on gas You will save money by not having to deal with expensive, serious repairs You’ll reduce the amount of gas you need to buy, so you’re helping conserve a scarce resource. You’re decreasing the pollution from your car’s tailpipe

COMMUTE IN ENERGY/FUEL EFFICIENT WAYS Select the best route – few stops and smooth roads Make fewer trips Combine errands Select off-peak times Car pool Walk, bicycle or take the bus Avoid excessive idling Warm the car up by driving it Obey the speed limit Accelerate smoothly Use an alternative fuel vehicle www.cleanair.utah.gov/steps.htm

Why Alternative Fuels U.S. consumes more than ¼ of world’s oil production Currently 5 OPEC countries control 2/3 of world’s known oil reserves U.S. imports more than ½ its daily oil supply from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and/or Mexico Politics are very much a part of this unstable region of the world

Why Alternative Fuels U.S. transportation sector accounts for approximately 2/3 of all petroleum use U.S. transportation sector accounts for roughly ¼ of total U.S. energy consumption Any effort to decrease our use of oil hinges on reducing its use in transportation Reduce trade deficit Create jobs Promote economic activity Sale of U.S. produced fuels keeps every dollar in this country

Common Alternative Fuels Electric Ethanol Natural Gas Propane Hydrogen Biodiesel www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/vbg

Transportation Challenge America is heading down a new road toward reducing its dependency on petroleum fuels New legislation is hastening use of alternative fuels New technologies are continuously being developed to utilize alternative fuels Alternative fuels significantly decrease pollutants in the atmosphere Alternative fuels conserve natural resources Help protect the environment Reduce foreign oil dependency

Another added bonus… Alternative Fueled Vehicles are eligible for a “C” Plate and may be driven in the HOV lane with only ONE occupant

Operating Cost Comparison Typical SUV averaging 15 miles/gallon at $2.80/gallon gasoline = more than $.19/mile vs Honda Civic GX averaging 32 miles/gallon at $1.25/gasoline gallon equivalent = less than $.04/mile = Real savings of $.15/mile. Based on typical vehicle use of 10,000 miles/year, this equates to savings of $1,500.00/year. http://fcvt.nrel.gov/afdc/resources/pricereport/price_report.html

Alternative Fuel Vehicles Internal Combustion Engine Concept Powerplant Vision 21st Century Fuel Cells Alternative Fuel Vehicles Internal Combustion Engine ...Hybrids... Honda is currently conducting research with alternative fuels and various vehicle “powerplants.” But while some show promise for the future, it may be decades before society develops the necessary infrastructures to make them viable alternatives for the mainstream. Honda believes that the way to make the biggest and most immediate impact on the environmental problems we face is to improve gasoline engines which are used by millions of people around the world, while at the same time providing great alternatives like our dedicated natural gas Honda Civic GX and hybrids today and continuing the necessary research into technology like fuel cells for tomorrow.

Hybrids Toyota Prius Honda Insight Ford Escape

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CLEAN FUELS How does it affect you as driver education students? Responsible Drivers – Responsible Citizens Freedom to make educated choices Involved in decisions as to what modes of transportation are used Designers/innovators of new technologies

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