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Transportation Issues

US Cars and Drivers

US Population:

300 million Licensed drivers

190 million Cars and light

trucks.

210 million

US Cars and Drivers

We spend $20 out of every $100 of household $$ on our cars.

Very little travel (2%) is by mass transit (buses and trains)

Problems

Air pollution Global Warming Oil Imports Gasoline Prices Future Oil Supplies

What can we do?

Transportation: Air Pollution

Air Pollution – Sources

Internal Combustion Engine

Pollutants

Photochemical Smog

Ozone

Acid Rain

Acid Rain

The Environmental Protection Agency

Clean Air Acts1955, 1963, 1970, 1990

Clean Air Act of 1990

Where are the problem areas?

How are emission standards achieved?

Catalytic Converter

Command and Control Strategy

Tailpipe Emissions Testingin Connecticut  

EPA Strategies Have Worked for

Pollution Emission by cars.

Even though vehicle miles increased by 150%, emission have substantially decreased.

Cars also emit CO2

Global Warming

20 lb CO2 emitted for every gallon of gasoline consumed.

Transportation accounts for 25% of Global greenhouse gas emissions

Beyond Gasoline: Drive Less

Drive Less - Walk

Drive Less - Bicycle

Drive Less – Mass Transit

Drive Less - Subway

Drive Less - Carpool

Drive Less – Urban Planning

Drive Less – Summary

• Many people like flexibility and safety of cars

• Many people like suburbs.• Mass transit systems requires large $$

investments.• Will take many years to transform

suburbs into “new towns”• Part of the solution, but not the whole

solution.

Beyond Gasoline: Biofuels

Ethanol

Gasohol (E10)

E85 – alternate fuel

Flex Fuel Vehicle

Brazil

Sugar caneGas stations have E25 or E100

Ethanol from Cellulose

Biodiesel

Biodiesel FuelProcessed diesel fuel derived from biological sources. Used in unmodified diesel engines.

LimitationsB20 - unmodified diesel engines B100 - requires modificationsGelling problem

Beyond Gasoline: Concept Cars

EV

Electric Cars have not been successful.Large heavy batteriesShort driving rangeSlow refueling (recharging) process.

GM EV-1

Produced by GM from 1996-199.

Tesla

Tesla Roadster may represent a new direction.Uses new lighter batteries.Expensive.

GM Volt

Li-Ion batteries and a gasoline engine. The gasoline engine will run a

generator to recharge the batteries, but will not directly power the vehicle. (no gasoline motor)

Fuel Cell Vehicles

Internal Combustion Engine

Engine – 20% efficient

Only 20% of gasoline energy is converted to motion.

Fuel Cells and the Hydrogen Economy

Fuels Cells use hydrogen to produce electrical energy. They do not burn hydrogen.

2H2 +O2 2H2O + energy

Fuel cells could be used to power cars with hydrogen as the fuel.

Clean fuel

Barriers to Hydrogen Cars

Still in development

Expensive On-vehicle

storage of hydrogen fuel

Availability of hydrogen fuel

Infrastructure

Hydrogen Sources

Steam reforming of natural gas:

CH4 +2H2O CO2 + 4H2

Electrolysis:

2H2O + energy 2H2 + O2

Energy Source for Electrolyzer

Electrolysis requires energy.

Energy could come from Solar, Nuclear, or Wind.

In the short term, it would probably come from coal.

Beyond Gasoline: Fuel Economy

CAFE Standards

Corporate Average Fuel Economy

Mileage requirements for new vehicles

Current CAFE Standards

• 27.5 mpg for passenger automobiles

• 20.7 mpg for light trucks & SUVs

How do we make cars that use less gasoline?

Reduce wind drag

Reduce weight

More efficient engines and drive trains

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

Gasoline Engine Electric motor Does not need to be recharged

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

Some Examples of 2008 Fuel Efficient Models

Toyota Prius

Sedan $22,200 Hybrid 48 mpg 110 hp

Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)

Honda Civic Hybrid

Sedan $22,600 Hybrid 45 mpg 110 hp

Toyota Yaris Liftback

Sedan $11,000 Gasoline 40 mpg 106hp

Honda Fit

5-Door $13,900 Gasoline 37 mpg 109 hp

Honda Civic EX

Sedan $18,700 Gasoline 37 mpg 140 hp

Ford Escape Hybrid

SUV $26,000 Hybrid 30 mpg 230 hp

How long does it take to change the US auto fleet?

• 210 million cars and light trucks in US• 19 million new cars and trucks each year• 200,000 new HEVs in 2005.• Vehicles last 140,000 miles or 10 years• Changing rolling stock takes several years.

Policies – Feebate

• Extra fee to buy a gasoline SUV• Rebate when buying a HEV

Nissan Armada: 13 mpg

Links

http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_biofuels.htmlhttp://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/FindPane.asphttp://gm-volt.com/http://world.honda.com/FuelCell/http://www.fueleconomy.gov/