Travel has forever been a part of our existence. Whether it was our ancestors trekking across the nation in covered wagons in search of land to call their own or us grabbing a bus to the local coffee shop for our seasonal pumpkin-spiced latte, transportation is a must for us.
One byproduct of today’s travel is transportation’s impact on energy consumption and the environment. Hoping to minimize these effects, we’ve become increasingly interested in energy conservation practices in the transportation sector.
But what energy conservation efforts are we undertaking, how are they helping, and what’s the future of energy conservation in transportation? We’ll answer all these questions and more.
How Can We Achieve Energy Conservation in Transportation?
Energy conservation in transportation is a crucial aspect of sustainable development and combating climate change. Throughout the years, we have implemented numerous strategies and technologies to achieve this goal, helping push us toward greener and more efficient transportation systems. Let’s review some of these systems and how they move the needle.
Increasing Fuel Efficiency
One of the most fundamental ways we’ve increased energy conservation in transportation is by developing more fuel-efficient vehicles. Automotive advancements have ushered in the development of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). These vehicles have significantly reduced energy consumption compared to traditional gasoline-powered ones.
HEVs and PHEVs combine electric motors and internal combustion engines, which allows them to operate more efficiently and emit fewer greenhouse gases. For example, the 2024 Honda Accord is available as a hybrid or with a traditional internal combustion powertrain. The Hybrid model gets 48 miles per gallon (mpg) combined and emits only 118 grams of CO2 per mile. The standard Accord gets 32 mpg combined and emits 277 grams of CO2 per mile — making it 33% less efficient, with 135% more CO2 emissions than its hybrid sibling.
BEVs take this technology a step further: It eliminates the internal combustion engine altogether and relies solely on electricity to operate. While these vehicles are not 100% green, as they must charge on a power grid that may operate on fossil fuels, they are a step in the right direction in terms of energy conservation and emissions reduction. For example, a 2024 Tesla Model S has an equivalent fuel economy rating of 120 mpg combined and emits zero grams of CO2 per mile (not including emissions from producing the electricity that charges the battery).
On top of the powertrain advancements, automakers have developed other technologies to milk every ounce of energy from these vehicles. One such technology is the regenerative braking system, which converts kinetic energy of braking into electrical energy and stores that energy in the vehicle’s battery pack.
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Driver Assist Features and Autonomous Driving
Eco-driving is a known means to conserve energy in transportation by driving in a manner that maximizes fuel efficiency. This includes maintaining a steady speed and avoiding unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By adopting eco-driving practices, individuals can reduce their fuel consumption and contribute to energy conservation. However, saying you’ll drive more efficiently and doing so on the open road are two different things. This is where driver-assist features and autonomous driving vehicles come in.
Adaptive cruise control is a relatively new and constantly evolving driver-assist feature that works like traditional cruise control, but it can also steadily adjust your speed to match traffic ahead of you. Plus, some more advanced systems will also bring the vehicle to a complete stop in traffic and smoothly accelerate when traffic begins moving again, helping promote efficient driving techniques. Some newer systems even tap into the navigation system to detect curves and smoothly adjust speeds to compensate.
Autonomous driving, which is still being perfected, takes this further by taking over all driving responsibilities, ensuring peak efficiency throughout the trip.
New Manufacturing Materials
Energy conservation in transportation isn’t all about improving powertrain efficiency. Automakers can also work on reducing vehicle weight. Using lightweight materials like aluminum, carbon fiber, and high-strength steel in new vehicle manufacturing reduces the overall weight of vehicles and improves fuel economy. Combine this with modern advancements in powertrains, such as turbocharging, variable valve timing, and electrification, and vehicles become even more efficient.
Alternative Transportation
Improving the vehicles we drive is one way to achieve energy conservation in transportation, but it can also include using alternative modes of transportation. Promoting alternative forms of transportation such as biking, walking, and public transportation in place of our passenger cars can reduce the number of vehicles on the road, ultimately leading to increased transport energy efficiency and lower emissions.
To build interest in these alternatives, governments must invest in infrastructure to support them, including bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly walkways, and efficient public transportation systems. Without these investments, drivers may be wary of these alternatives.
Smart Transportation Infrastructures
Beyond technological advancements in vehicles and alternative modes of transportation, we can optimize energy conservation in transportation through smarter transportation management systems. Intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) employ advanced technologies like sensors, cameras, and data analytics to optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and minimize energy waste.
These systems can provide real-time information to drivers, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their routes and driving behaviors, ultimately leading to energy savings and increased sustainability.
Carpooling
Carpooling is a classic energy-saving move. Groups of people heading to the same destination in one car not only reduces traffic and fuel consumption but also lowers the amount of emissions and increases energy efficiency. For example, if a group of five people pile into one car to go to work 20 miles away, we now have only one vehicle using 20 miles worth of energy (fuel) instead of five cars.
Some local and state governments offer incentives for carpooling, such as access to lower-traffic, high-occupancy lanes and even cash rewards in Washington, D.C. With more incentives like these, we could see a dramatic reduction in energy use for transportation.
Why Is Transportation Efficiency Important in Energy Conservation?
Transportation efficiency is crucial for energy conservation because it has a direct impact on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Inefficient transportation systems require more fuel to operate, resulting in higher energy consumption and increased emissions. By improving transportation efficiency, we minimize energy waste and reduce our carbon footprint, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Transportation also plays a massive role in our daily lives. Whether commuting to work, running errands, or traveling long distances, transportation is important to our society, but the convenience of today’s transportation comes at a cost – energy consumption.
By improving energy conservation in transportation, we can continue to enjoy that convenience while also reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. As mentioned earlier, we have numerous ways to achieve this, including enhancement of the vehicles we drive, promotion of alternative modes of transportation, and infrastructure improvements.
When we think about transportation, we often focus on vehicles such as cars, trucks, and buses. These modes of transportation are heavily reliant on fossil fuels, particularly gasoline and diesel. The combustion of these fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. In fact, transportation is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally.
How Is Energy Used in Transportation?
The main energy use in transportation is to physically propel the vehicle. In traditional gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles, the combustion of fossil fuels creates the energy needed for propulsion. But these fuels are also responsible for other tasks in a vehicle, including creating the energy that powers the vehicle’s air-conditioning, alternator, and other accessories that make driving a vehicle more comfortable.
The problem is that once these fuels are burned, they’re gone for good, emitting chemicals that cause global warming.
Electric vehicles, on the other hand, don’t necessarily need to burn fossil fuels to operate. Instead, they get energy from electricity obtained from the grid or a renewable energy source. When they deplete their stored energy, you can simply recharge them instead of adding more fuel (as you would in a traditional vehicle). Electric vehicles use their stored energy much like a traditional car uses its fuel, as this energy not only propels the vehicle but also powers all its accessories.
A common misconception about electric vehicles, though, is that they have no emissions. While they may not emit CO2 themselves, many EVs charge on fossil fuel power grids, such as natural gas, oil, or coal power plants. This means charging them results in emissions.
However, even the worst possible scenario — charging an electric vehicle on a coal-fired power grid — would generate 4.1 million grams of CO2 annually. Meanwhile, the average gasoline car emits 4.6 million grams of CO2 per year. So, electric vehicles still deliver less air pollution, even when charging on a “dirty” grid.
What Are the Benefits of Energy Conservation in Transportation?
By exercising energy conservation in transportation, we can enjoy many benefits. Let’s review some of the key benefits of this type of energy conservation.
Energy Independence
While our petroleum production continues to rise and imports continue falling, we are still not fully independent in terms of our transportation energy needs. The U.S. became a net exporter of petroleum in 2020, but as of 2022, we’re still a net importer of crude oil, the oil used to make gasoline and other fuels. This leaves our ability to travel mostly dependent on other countries exporting crude oil to the U.S.
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Burning fossil fuels for transportation creates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as CO2, and these gases lead to global warming and human-influenced climate change. By promoting energy conservation in transportation, we can reduce fossil fuel burning, which would bring down GHG emissions and help slow or even reverse climate change.
Cost Savings
Fuel costs are often unpredictable, as they seem to be in constant flux. This can put a strain on people’s budgets. By promoting energy conservation in transportation, we can put these costs in check and reduce the burden.
For example, if electric vehicle adoption grows and the development of efficient solar-powered charging stations accelerates, people could charge their electric cars on these cost-effective stations. Their only worry would be the initial cost of the charging station, not the fluctuating fossil fuel prices or energy costs.
What Are Renewable Energy Sources for Transportation?
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are another option for energy conservation in transportation. We’ve already discussed electric vehicles charging with renewable energy, such as solar-powered charging stations. This allows for truly zero-emission transportation. But other options exist, too.
One such option is biofuel, which is derived from organic matter. This is a renewable alternative to fossil fuels because it’s not reliant on a finite resource. Generally, this alternative fuel comes from the fermentation of high-starch crops into ethanol. However, other options exist, including:
- Biodiesel: Diesel fuel derived from vegetable oils and other liquid animal fats
- Green diesel: Diesel fuel derived from algae and other plants
- Biogas: Methane-based vehicle fuel created from animal manure and digested organic materials
What Is the Future of Energy Conservation in Transportation?
The future of energy conservation in transportation looks promising. With new technologies in the automotive industry, such as improved battery technology and autonomous driving, we can further enhance energy efficiency and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The development of smart transportation systems and infrastructure can also optimize energy consumption and reduce congestion on the roads. As we move forward, it is essential to prioritize energy conservation in transportation to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation sector.
Energy conservation goes beyond just transportation, though. We can also focus on energy conservation in our homes by cutting back on energy use and switching to renewable energy sources. At Energy Savings, we showcase a wide range of electricity plans, including Pure Green Plans, which are 100% green.
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