Remember, the US imports 53% of its total oil. That dependence on foreign oil could be almost completely eliminated if the average fuel economy of cars was 45 mpg instead of 25 mpg

Saving energy in the Transportation Sector:

Options:

• Mass Transit
• Work close to Home
• Work in Home
• Better fuel efficiency
• Alternative Fuels/power
• Tax Gasoline

Transportation Issues:

• The average person uses 500 gallons of gas per year at an average cost of $700.
• This is because we are a one occupant per car transportation system --> suburbia (let's hear it again for the 50's!)
• In 1973 the average fuel economy was 13 mpg. After the Arab Oil "Crisis" of 1974, the following goals were put into place:
  • 1980 --> 20 mpg
  • 1985 --> 26 mpg
  • 1995 --> 50 mpg

• Newton's second law ( F = ma ) tells us that fuel efficient vehicles should have low m . However, the profit margin on low m cars is low so there is little incentive to build and market them. This is a real problem. When gas prices feel to historical lows in the late 80's the muscle cars came back.

• California had an aggressive mandate. By the year 2000, 10% of all commercial fleets (\eg FedEx vans, etc) had to be solar powered and 2% of all cars on new car lots had to be solar powered. Recently, this mandate was rolled back as industry claimed the targets could not be met.

• Energy losses for cars:

• Friction between tires and the road (this is desireable, however, for braking)
• aerodynamic drag --> goes as velocity²; (75/55)² = 1.85 (!)

• Amount of fuel usage has increased by a factor of 3 between 1948 and 1990.

• How to reduce fuel consumption:
  The Well Duh Category:
  • Drive less --> use public transportation, carpool. live near where you work (move to Toronto (note the masthead theft)), shop less, ride a bike, walk, telecommute

• Reduce the mass of your vehicle
• Get a tune-up --> 10% fuel savings
• Reduce your drag

The true cost of our private conveyance habit: