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This briefing discusses the challenges of meeting 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas (GHG) standards, proposing high-octane, low-carbon fuels as a cost-effective compliance pathway for the automotive industry and consumers.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides a historical overview of octane additives in U.S. gasoline, detailing the transition from lead and other petroleum-based aromatics to ethanol due to health and environmental concerns. It discusses the role of the EPA in regulating fuel composition to reduce tailpipe emissions and improve engine efficiency.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines the history and evolution of octane additives in United States gasoline, detailing the transition from lead and other petroleum-based aromatics to ethanol due to health and environmental concerns.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines six specific domestic policy steps and several international actions the Obama administration should undertake in 2016 to secure its climate legacy and meet greenhouse gas reduction targets.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines the federal fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for light-duty and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the United States from 2007 to 2027. It details the legislative history starting with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the subsequent regulatory actions by the EPA and NHTSA, and the projected economic and environmental benefits of these standards.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the potential for deploying mid-level ethanol blends (E25 to E40) as high-octane fuels in the United States. It discusses the technical benefits for engine efficiency, the existing compatibility of the vehicle fleet and retail infrastructure, and the potential for significant greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions compared to conventional gasoline.

This briefing note examines the intersection of climate change and the transport sector in Kenya, detailing the sector's vulnerability to extreme weather and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. It provides guidance for businesses on adapting operations and reducing emissions through fuel efficiency and the 'avoid-shift-improve' framework.

This policy brief examines how diesel price increases affect the Indian trucking industry, identifying structural vulnerabilities such as poor road quality, toll delays, and a lack of bargaining power for small operators. It proposes short-term relief through minimum freight rates and toll reductions, and long-term structural reforms including improved fuel efficiency and computerized exchange networks.

This 2013 issue brief by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the funding crisis of the U.S. Highway Trust Fund (HTF), noting that federal fuel taxes have not been adjusted in 20 years. The document analyzes the resulting infrastructure deterioration, the reliance on General Fund transfers to maintain solvency, and various policy options—including inflation indexing, fuel tax increases, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees—to close a $112 billion annual funding gap.

This policy brief examines the funding crisis facing the U.S. Highway Trust Fund (HTF), noting that federal fuel taxes have not been adjusted since 1993. It details the resulting infrastructure deterioration, the reliance on General Fund transfers to maintain solvency, and various proposed solutions including inflation indexing, fuel tax increases, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlines a strategic framework to increase the adoption of carbon fiber composites in mainstream passenger vehicles to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency. Based on a November 2012 workshop with approximately 40 experts, the report proposes a 'parts-based approach' to avoid the risks of whole-vehicle redesign while scaling the supply chain. It identifies high-value parts for near-term adoption, analyzes the business case for these components, and recommends the creation of an Innovation Hub and a coordinated effort to develop lower-cost precursors to overcome material cost barriers.

This policy brief by RMI advocates for the implementation of 'feebates' in the United States to reduce oil dependence and accelerate the adoption of efficient vehicles. It defines the feebate mechanism, proposes specific design goals based on a 2007 expert forum, and analyzes the success of France's 'bonus-malus' program as a case study.

The report proposes the creation of the Federal Freight Efficiency Authority (FFEA), a U.S. government agency designed to reduce oil dependence by improving the fuel efficiency of Class-8 heavy-duty trucks. The FFEA would provide default risk insurance on lease payments for independent owner-operators and small fleets, enabling them to transition from inefficient used trucks to new, high-efficiency vehicles.

This statement from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to Senator Olympia Snowe proposes a series of short-term measures to reduce U.S. demand for conventional crude oil by 5% to 9%. RMI argues that such a reduction would stabilize global oil prices by increasing excess capacity to between 2.5 and 3.8 million barrels per day, thereby mitigating the impact of price shocks and speculation.

The Hypercar® is a conceptual vehicle developed by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) that integrates ultralightweight construction, ultra-aerodynamic design, and hybrid-electric propulsion to achieve extreme fuel efficiency without sacrificing safety or performance.

The report 'REINVENTING THE WHEELS' proposes the 'Hypercar'—an ultralight hybrid-electric vehicle—as a way to increase fuel efficiency tenfold compared to 1990s standards. The authors argue that combining advanced composite materials to reduce weight and aerodynamic drag with a hybrid-electric drive to recover braking energy can create vehicles that are safer, cleaner, and cheaper to manufacture than traditional steel cars. The document advocates for a shift in industrial strategy and the use of 'feebates' to accelerate the transition away from the 'Iron Age' of automotive manufacturing.

This research paper by the Rocky Mountain Institute proposes a radical redesign of the light-vehicle industry, moving away from incremental improvements of steel cars toward 'supercars': ultralight, hybrid-electric vehicles constructed from net-shape polymer composites. The authors argue that integrating advanced materials, switched reluctance motors, and hybrid drives could increase fuel efficiency by up to ten times compared to 1990 US production cars, while simultaneously improving safety, reducing production costs, and transforming the industrial structure of automotive manufacturing and sales.

The 'Presenter’s Guide for the Idle Reduction and Clean School Bus Curriculum For Drivers and School Officials' is a training manual developed by the Utah Clean Cities Program, National Energy Foundation, and Environmental and Energy Study Institute. It provides a structured 45-minute workshop designed to educate school bus drivers and officials on the health risks of diesel exhaust and the economic and environmental benefits of reducing engine idling.

This case study examines the role of the U.S. government in advancing diesel internal combustion engine technology. It details how federal investments in basic combustion research, the development of simulation tools, and the establishment of public-private partnerships led to significant improvements in fuel efficiency and a dramatic reduction in harmful emissions for heavy-duty trucks between the 1970s and 2010.

This research paper by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) investigates the relationship between vehicle weight and safety, challenging the perception that lighter vehicles are inherently more dangerous. Using a virtually modeled ultralight concept vehicle (the 'UltraLight') compared against a 2007 Ford Edge, the study demonstrates that while an unoptimized ultralight design may offer less protection to its own driver, it is significantly less aggressive toward other road users and can be improved through iterative design without adding mass.