Quicker pathways to reduce transportation's CLIMATE IMPACT

Reducing U.S. vehicle emissions will require policies that support a variety of alternatives to fossil-fuel-burning, non-hybrid vehicles. ‘Perfect’ should not be the enemy of ‘good.’

Current U.S. energy policies are laser-focused on addressing climate change - as they should be. Meanwhile, 2022's soaring gasoline prices showed that U.S. dependence on foreign oil continues to be a significant vulnerability for the economy and national security. Policy options that tackle both issues - reducing climate-warming carbon emissions as well as oil dependence - currently center on encouraging the manufacture and purchase of battery electric vehicles (BEV).

Fully deployed, BEVs could reduce transportation-related emissions to the lowest possible level. But this strategy alone does not recognize some of the limitations of BEVs, nor the advantages of other climate-friendly technologies. Expanding current policies beyond their focus on BEVs would engage more of the U.S. in the transition to lower emissions on a quicker timetable.