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Biofuels are an important tool to help decarbonize our transportation system, and their role will likely grow in coming years. New tax credits authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act are being finalized; these would offer significant incentives for the biofuel alternatives to conventional jet fuel, so-called “Sustainable Aviation Fuels” or SAF. But it’s not always clear how sustainable these fuels truly are, or whether they offer a significant GHG advantage over petroleum.

California is marching ahead with firm rules now in place for both light-duty and medium/heavy-duty vehicles to transition to zero emission stock by 2045. The State is requiring that all new vehicles sold from 2035 onward be “zero-emission vehicles” (ZEVs)—battery electric, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles. While battery electric vehicles currently dominate ZEV sales and discussions of the zero-emissions future, fuel-cell vehicles are expected to play a key role, especially in truck and bus fleets and some households.

Big reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector are needed to limit the magnitude of climate change impacts. Understanding what kinds of policy and market dynamics are at play can help us meet national goals. Our recent study shows that there is an interplay between policy, vehicle types, and fuel sources, and that early investment in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) could yield big savings and big reductions in GHG emissions, by 2050. Low-carbon fuels for non-electric vehicles will also need to play an important role.

Dan Sperling discusses the three revolutions, electrification, ride-sharing, and automation, which he says will reform the current transportation system we have.

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Professor Dan Sperling, Supervisor

by UC Davis News and Media Relations

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in California. In order to achieve the state’s goals of carbon neutrality by 2045 and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, decarbonizing this sector is essential. But such a transition is unlikely to occur rapidly without key policy intervention.

By Miguel Jaller, Anmol Pahwa, Seth Karten

With more states and individuals observing stricter limits on in-person shopping, and with holidays coming, what can we do to limit the environmental and societal impact of online shopping? And even beyond this moment, how do we minimize the harm—or maximize the benefit—of online shopping to society and life on our planet?

By Dan Sperling, Lew Fulton, and Vicki Arroyo

California is a global leader on policies to reduce the emissions causing climate change. But transportation has proven a particularly challenging sector to decarbonize. The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) recently released a draft scope of work for a major transportation study that will help steer the state towards its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.

By Lew Fulton and Dan Sperling

The path to zero-carbon transportation may be cheaper than you think. It need not cost trillions nor even billions. And it could even be “free” to taxpayers.

By Miguel Jaller         

The nation’s first electric truck sales mandate is expected to be approved on June 25 by the California Air Quality Board. Read more...

Freight Waves

The economic downturn triggered by the novel coronavirus pandemic threatens to stall multistate goals to put more clean cars on the road. Read more...

E&E News

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