The road to de-carbonizing our economies is going to be long and full of conflicting agendas, including those in the transportation sector. Since 1990 vehicle pollution has gone up 33%, mostly from light trucks, which outsell smaller vehicles three to one. 60% of fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground to stay under 1.5 degrees warming, and more fuel efficient vehicles will help us to achieve that goal.
Following the Arab oil embargo in 1975 the U.S. introduced Corporate Average Fleet Efficiency, (CAFE) standards to reduce fuel consumption. These are now based, improbably, not on weight, engine size, or a combination, but vehicle footprint, with an unintended effect of discouraging fuel efficient vehicles in favour of gas guzzlers. Manufacturers not meeting CAFE standards paid paltry penalties, a cost of doing business, while making a killing on large vehicles.
With climate change raging, the logical response would be for Canadians to move to smaller, more efficient vehicles, be they ICE, hybrid, plug-in or electric. Smaller vehicles consume fewer resources and energy to manufacture and operate, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Almost in defiance of climate change, and logic, we are moving in the opposite direction, buying every greater numbers of gas guzzling pickup trucks and large SUVs .
The split between those who drive smaller vehicles, and those who drive much larger ones, has morphed into a cultural divide; the reasons for purchasing one or the other being cost, safety, image, status, and concern – or unconcern – towards climate change.
Pickup trucks, and large SUVs are heavily marketed to a male demographic, those looking to present a rugged, masculine image. There are other practical, less polluting alternatives; minivans if you have a growing family, or compact, car-based SUVs and CUVs.
In addition to emitting more GHGs, large SUVs and pickup trucks make the roads more dangerous for smaller vehicles. They block lines of sight, are less likely to see pedestrians due to their height, and are more likely to injure or kill occupants of smaller vehicles in the event of a collision. Anyone who has been blinded by the taller headlights of a large vehicle, understands.
If we buy increasingly larger, heavier, vehicles to protect ourselves, where does this end?
Alternatively, we could drive more smaller vehicles, levelling the playing field, making the highways safer for everyone, while reducing GHG emissions.. Vehicle design has evolved, making smaller vehicles safer, with a suite of features, reducing the risk of injury or death.
With their higher centre of gravity, and relatively clumsy handling compared to smaller vehicles, large SUVs are more prone to rollovers, so are they really safer?
Enforcing stricter CAFE standards, while increasing fines to automakers , and the gas guzzler tax for all vehicles, may slow the proliferation of these vehicles. As we electrify transportation it would be sensible to have CAFE type standards for e-vehicles., and as we transition to hybrid, plug-in or fully electric vehicles, size is still a concern. It’s ludicrous to change out enormous gas guzzlers for equally enormous battery electric vehicles, like the Ford F-150 Lightning or GMC Hummer, particularly when sourcing critical battery minerals has become a geopolitical challenge.
Furthermore, to get people out of their cars we need efficient, reliable public transportation. More roads mean more cars, congestion, pollution, accidents and frustration. We need to stop building highways and invest in passenger rail infrastructure instead. It works in Europe; it can work here. A dedicated passenger rail line between Quebec City and Toronto, long overdue, would be a good start.
Wayne Poole