The transportation sector is the largest emitter of energy-related CO2 emissions in New England. Further, passenger cars and light trucks are the largest emission sources within the transportation sector. We calculated GHG emissions savings from applying potential solutions to passenger cars and light trucks. The emissions savings wedge is calculated by subtracting the solution (SOLN) emission from the business as usual (BAU) emissions. The equation is:

ΔE(t) = EBAU(t) – ESOLN(t)

where ΔE(t) is the CO2eq savings wedge from applying the transportation emissions solutio, EBAU(t) is the business as usual CO2eq emissions scenario, and ESOLN(t) is the emissions from the solution scenario. EBAU(t) and ESOLN(t) are each calculated from estimated fuel economy (MPG) and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) scenarios. All values are reported with units of millions of metric tons CO2.

The following cases are analysed:

• 35MPG - A CAFE standard of 35MPG for cars and light trucks is phased in by 2020.
• 50MPG - A CAFE standard of 50MPG for cars and light trucks is phased in by 2020.
• 50% VMT - Projected vehicle miles traveled are reduced by 50% by 2020.

  A full report desribing these analyses and all underlying calculations is available on this site (Lambert et al. 2007 CSNE Technical Report).

  References

  1. Lambert T 2007. Transportation Wedges. Carbon Solutions NE Technical Report (available online)
  2. U.S. Department of Transportation. Office of Highway Policy Information. Highway Statistics Series. Table VM-1 1996-2005 used. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohpi/hss/hsspubs.htm
  3. U.S. Department of Transportation. Office of Highway Policy Information. Highway Statistics Series. Table MV-1 1996-2005 used. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohpi/hss/hsspubs.htm
  4. U.S. EPA. Automotive Fuel Economy: Title 49 U.S. Code, Chapter 329. 1975 http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/Cfc_title49/ACTchap321-331.html
• 35MPG AND 50% VMT- A CAFE standard of 35MPG for cars and light trucks, and a 50% reduction of projected vehicles miles traveled, are phased in together by 2020.
• 50MPG AND 50% VMT - A CAFE standard of 50MPG for cars and light trucks, and a 50% reduction of projected vehicles miles traveled, are phased in together by 2020.