The transportation sector consumes approximately one-third of the energy used in the United States, mostly using gasoline and diesel fuels to power cars and trucks. The transition to an energy-efficient economy will require a national fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles and a 21st-century infrastructure system that allows Americans to spend less at the pump and invest more in the local economy.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) raised fuel economy standards, which were subsequently accelerated in 2009 to a standard of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. EISA ordered the development of new fuel economy standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks as well, which are currently in development.
Policy Options to Create Demand for Efficient Vehicles and Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled
- Tax credits for the purchase of highly efficient vehicles
- Fees on gas-guzzlers
- Labeling and consumer education efforts
- Vigorous R&D on fuel-efficient, low-emissions vehicles
- Investments in public transit projects, intercity passenger rail service, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure
- Appropriate pricing of transportation infrastructure usage and services (e.g., congestion pricing, use-based insurance, and parking policies)
- Integrate transportation and land use planning through updates to zoning and land use regulations that promote compact, mixed use and transit-oriented development.
- Improve data collection and travel demand modeling to allow planners to understand travel behavior and provide attractive alternatives to driving.
For more on industrial energy efficiency, download a one pager: Transportation System and Vehicle Efficiency.