National Research Council. Transitions to Alternative Vehicles and Fuels

Committee on Transitions to Alternative Vehicles and Fuels; Board on Energy and Environmental Systems; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences. - National Academy of Sciences, 2013. 395 p. — ISBN: 0309268524, 9780309268523.This issue assesses the potential for reducing petroleum consumption and greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 80% across the U.S. light-duty vehicles (LDVs) fleet by 2050, relative to 2005. It examines the current capability and estimated future performance and costs for each vehicle type and non-petroleum-based fuel technology as options that could significantly contribute to these goals.By analyzing scenarios that combine various fuel and vehicle pathways, the book identifies barriers to implementation of these technologies and suggests policies to achieve the desired reductions. Several scenarios are promising, but strong, effective, and sustained but adaptive policies such as research and development (R&D), subsidies, energy taxes, or regulations will be necessary to overcome barriers such as cost and consumer choice.Select Acronyms and Abbreviations
OverviewAlternative Vehicle Technologies: Status, Potential, and Barriers
Alternative Fuels
Consumer Attitudes and Barriers
Modeling the Transition to Alternative Vehicles and Fuels
Policies for Reducing GHG Emissions from and Petroleum Use by Light-Duty Vehicles
Policy Options
Appendixes
Appendix A: Statement of Task
Appendix B: Committee Biographies
Appendix C: Meetings and Presentations
Appendix D: Reports on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections to 2050
Appendix E: Glossary, Conversion Factors, and Acronyms and Abbreviations
Appendix F: Vehicles
Appendix G: Fuels
Appendix H: Modeling