This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

March 27, 2013

DOE Study: Deep Cuts Possible in Transportation Petroleum Use, Emissions

A study released by two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories on March 15 reveals strategies to reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector by more than 80% by 2050. The Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) prepared the Transportation Energy Futures study, which was funded by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The study found that there's no "silver bullet" that will achieve deep cuts in petroleum use and GHG emissions on its own. Instead, a coordinated approach on all fronts examined by the study is needed to achieve the deep cuts.

The Transportation Energy Futures study consists of nine reports, which focus on deploying advanced technologies in light-duty vehicles (cars and light trucks); non-cost barriers to advanced technologies, such as range anxiety in electric vehicles; opportunities to improve the fuel efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, off-road vehicles and equipment, aircraft, marine vessels, and railways; opportunities to switch modes of freight, such as shifting freight from trucks to rail and ships; the infrastructure expansion required for low-GHG fuels; biomass resource issues for biofuels; opportunities to reduce transportation demand through urban planning and community development; trip reduction through mass transit, carpooling, teleworking, shopping online, and efficient driving; and the impacts of trends in freight demand. See the NREL press release and the Transportation Energy Futures project webpage.

A report by the National Research Council (NRC), focused only on light-duty vehicles and also sponsored by EERE, similarly found that petroleum use and GHG emissions could be cut 80% by 2050 using a combination of more efficient petroleum-based vehicles; alternative fuels such as biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen; and strong government policies to overcome higher costs. The report also concludes that it is impossible to know which advanced technologies will succeed, so the best approach is to promote government- and industry-supported research and development for a portfolio of vehicle and fuel technologies that aims to solve the critical challenges facing each technology. See the National Academies press release and report.