The world economy is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Transportation accounts for more than half of the 80 million barrels of oil consumed worldwide each day. 

• Growth in passenger travel, mainly by car and plane, has been the biggest contributor to the increase in oil demand.  The estimated 210 million automobiles and light trucks (vans, pick-ups and SUVs) in the United States comprise about two-thirds of the country’s oil use. 
• The transportation sector is one of the main contributors to climate change, as it is responsible for a large part of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
• The United States is the world’s largest emitter of global warming pollutants – contributing almost half of all emissions caused by human activity.  A third of energy-related U.S. emissions are produced by the transportation sector.

Transportation is one of the most polluting sectors of the U.S. economy and it is indisputable that change is needed, but new fuel sources alone cannot solve this massive problem. Our transportation system is highly inefficient – most of the energy content in gasoline fuel is lost to vehicle noise, heat, non-useful vibration, and wasted braking energy. The United States has the lowest fuel efficiency standards and the most permissible standards for tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions when compared to most developed countries.  Clearly, vehicle efficiency and fuel conservation through smart policy and planning should be the primary focus in improving our transportation sector.

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