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IEA technology and policy reports outline paths to halving fuel used for combustion-engined road transport in less than 40 years

Green Car Congress

Two new reports—one on technology, the other on policy— released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) outline pathways to improve the fuel efficiency of combustion-engined road vehicles by 50% by the middle of the century, saving as much as four-fifths of current annual global oil consumption. Technology Roadmap.

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Study explores impact of changing gasoline and diesel taxes in Europe

Green Car Congress

Because diesel- and gasoline- powered cars are almost perfect substitutes for users, a change in the levels of fuel taxation is expected to affect engine type choice by households and businesses, and automakers will respond by changing their pricing strategies to maintain their profits. —Bretau and Weber.

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National Academies report finds US interstate highways need major overhaul; calls for 20-year blueprint for action

Green Car Congress

The report calls for a 20-year “blueprint for action,” which includes creating an “Interstate Highway System Renewal and Modernization Program,” increasing the federal fuel tax to help pay for it, and allowing tolls and per-mile-charges on more interstate routes. National Academy of Sciences.

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Study finds that increased vehicle travel and decreased occupancy have undercut the impact of improving fuel economy over last 40 years

Green Car Congress

Because changes in fuel economy take a long time to percolate through the entire fleet, an 18% reduction in fuel used by vehicles purchased in a given year (due to a 20% improvement in their fuel economy) would result in only about a 1% reduction of the fuel used by the entire fleet.

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BCG study finds conventional automotive technologies have high CO2 reduction potential at lower cost; stiff competition for electric cars

Green Car Congress

As a result, BCG concludes, the electric car faces stiff competition from ICEs (internal combustion engines) and, based solely on total cost of ownership (TCO) economics, will not be the preferred option for most consumers. BCG finds that ICE technologies can reduce CO 2 emissions up to 40% at a cost as low as $50 per percentage of reduction.

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Next 10 report finds California will meet or exceed original target of 1.5M ZEVs by 2025

Green Car Congress

Accounting for that mileage and state and federal incentives, the smart fortwo ED and the Nissan Leaf have the lowest total cost of ownership of any of the 17 models studied, which include both ZEVs and internal-combustion-engine (ICE) vehicles. Price: The most expensive component of a ZEV is the battery. million ZEVs on the road by 2025.

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Study finds behavior-influencing policies remain critical for mass market success of low-carbon vehicles

Green Car Congress

More than 90% of such vehicles are powered by internal combustion engines burning oil-derived fuels. Without any such policies, the market for alternative-fuel vehicles will remain very niche, with a market share hovering around 1% for the foreseeable future—in other words, hardly greater than today.

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