Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 1
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capital costs (as well as the investment required to develop new technology) can
still provide a barrier to adoption of new technology; given the risk created by
uncertainty over future fuel prices.
Many of the most promising technologies for increasing efficiency still face
significant technological hurdles (such as fuel cells with its concomitant
hydrogen infrastructure challenges), or substantial cost and performance
disadvantages (such as electric batteries). Federal funding for research and
development for vehicles of all modes could help overcome these hurdles. More
stringent vehicle efficiency regulations would encourage private-sector
investment in research and development, as would substantial and sustained
increases in fuel or carbon prices. Vehicle efficiency regulations would have the
greatest impact in the light-duty vehicle sector, where fuel costs are a relatively
small factor in consumers’ vehicle purchase decisions. Other technology-neutral
incentives, such as “feebates” that increase or decrease a vehicle’s purchase
cost—depending upon its relative energy efficiency—could serve as an
alternative or supplement to efficiency regulations. Finally, the Federal
government could potentially adopt standards for technologies that are proven
to be cost-effective (e.g., for heavy-duty vehicles), or work with international
organizations, such as the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation
Organization and International Maritime Organization, to adopt standards for
marine vessels and aircraft.
3.5 STRATEGY: IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
EFFICIENCY
Strategies to improve transportation system efficiency seek to optimize the use of
the transportation network by improving transportation operations and reducing
energy use and GHG emissions associated with a given unit of passenger or
freight travel (e.g., person-miles, vehicle-miles, or ton-miles). The collective
impact of these strategies is relatively modest compared to vehicle and fuel
technology strategies—approximately a 3 to 6 percent reduction relative to
baseline 2030 transportation emissions. 77
Unlike vehicle and fuel technology
strategies, however, many of these strategies also have significant co-benefits in
the form of time-savings to travelers and reduced costs to shippers.
Furthermore, they may represent important GHG reduction strategies on a local
basis (e.g., in highly congested areas).
System efficiency strategies rely largely on the planning, design, operations, and
management of transportation systems–-factors within the control of national,
state, and local transportation agencies. Efficiency strategies, such as intelligent
traffic management, can lower GHG emissions by reducing fuel consumption
77 Vol. 2 Sec. 4.1.