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This book chapter analyzes the California Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and its influence on the innovation and deployment of low-emission, hybrid, and zero-emission vehicle technologies in the United States using the Technology Innovation System (TIS) framework.

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 briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes how U.S. state climate action plans incorporate land use, transportation, and green building policies as of July 2009.

This report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes how state climate action plans in the United States incorporate land use, transportation, and green building policies as of July 2009. It finds that while transportation and green building are common, specific 'smart growth' land use practices are the least frequent component of these plans.

This fact sheet provides data on energy consumption, electricity generation, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Georgia, based on 2006 and 2005 statistics.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the environmental and health impacts of school bus transportation, highlighting the benefits of buses over private vehicles and the specific dangers associated with diesel engine idling.

This report by RMI proposes the 'feebate' as a legislative tool to increase automobile fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A feebate applies a surcharge (fee) to inefficient vehicles to fund rebates for efficient ones, creating a self-financing mechanism that encourages manufacturers to innovate across all vehicle size classes without restricting consumer choice.

This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines technologies and maintenance practices to improve fuel efficiency in passenger vehicles and light trucks, noting a decline in average US fuel economy since 1987.

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.

This executive summary details a project conducted between October 2002 and December 2004 by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Climate Change and Development Consultants (CC&D), and the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP). The project explored the use of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Chile's transportation sector, specifically focusing on three case studies in Santiago: bicycle infrastructure, bus technology, and location efficiency.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes U.S. energy insecurity, focusing on the risks associated with oil dependence and the potential for energy efficiency to mitigate these threats. Using data primarily from the 2001 EIA Annual Energy Review, the document details the sources and uses of U.S. oil, the economic and security costs of dependence on OPEC and the Persian Gulf, and the technical potential for reducing oil consumption through vehicle efficiency and alternative fuels.

This research paper describes the 'hypercar' concept—an ultralight, hybrid-electric vehicle designed using a system-level optimization approach to minimize lifecycle environmental impacts without sacrificing consumer-valued features like performance and price.

This 1996 research paper examines the impact of 'hypercars'—ultralight vehicles using advanced composites and hybrid-electric drivesystems—on the recycling industry. While these vehicles offer significant fuel efficiency, emissions reductions, and manufacturing cost advantages, they threaten the economic viability of current recycling systems that rely on steel recovery. The authors propose a shift toward advanced recycling technologies like solvolysis and low-temperature catalytic pyrolysis to recover high-value carbon fibers and resins, suggesting that clean-sheet design for disassembly could ultimately increase overall automotive recyclability.

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 1995 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes energy consumption and pollutant emissions in the Texas transportation sector. Using the LEAP/EDB analysis system, the study establishes a 1994 baseline (Reference Scenario) and projects energy use through 2020 across five different policy scenarios: Reference, Rollback, Moderate, Aggressive, and Visionary. The report evaluates the impact of transportation control measures (TCMs), technological innovations, and pricing policies on reducing petroleum dependence and improving air quality.

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.

This fact sheet from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment outlines how transitioning to a low-carbon economy in Canada can provide immediate health benefits. It argues that current government commitments are insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets and advocates for a shift toward renewable energy, plant-based diets, and active transportation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health outcomes.

This report by CREA, for the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GHCA), analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 national lockdown on air pollution levels in Bengaluru. Using a network of 26 localized monitors, satellite data, and Google mobility data, the study finds a significant reduction in PM2.5 and NO2 levels, primarily attributed to the sharp decline in motorized transportation and industrial activities.

This fact sheet by the Climate Policy Initiative explores how a proposed California green bank could accelerate the decarbonization of the transportation sector, which accounts for approximately 40 percent of the state's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The document identifies specific financial and risk-bearing interventions across four subsectors: passenger vehicles, alternative fuel vehicle infrastructure, goods movement, and regional planning.