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Big reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector are needed to limit the magnitude of climate change impacts. Understanding what kinds of policy and market dynamics are at play can help us meet national goals. Our recent study shows that there is an interplay between policy, vehicle types, and fuel sources, and that early investment in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) could yield big savings and big reductions in GHG emissions, by 2050. Low-carbon fuels for non-electric vehicles will also need to play an important role.

It’s September–the month when Californians (especially policy wonks) wait with bated breath for the Governor’s end-of-the-month deadline for signing or vetoing bills. This year, Governor Newsom has championed a portfolio of ambitious climate bills and the Legislature has delivered them, with measures seeking to cut carbon from the electricity grid, transportation, buildings, natural lands, and industry.

There are many reasons to reduce our reliance on cars—they are polluting, inefficient, dangerous, and expensive to own. In dense urban areas, travel modes such as walking, bicycling, and public transit can be reasonable alternatives for many peoples’ transportation needs.

ITS-Davis contributed to a new study which argues that electrifying vehicles isn’t by itself enough to make transportation low-carbon by midcentury. But combined with a rethinking of how cities are designed, it could. Read more...

The Sustainable Freight (SF) Research Program is a growing research and policy program in the Institute of Transportation Studies of the University of California, Davis.

The Plug-in Hybrid & Electric Vehicle (PH&EV) Research Center launched in early 2007, with the support of the California Energy Commission’s allocation of Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) funds for transportation research. The Center collaborates closely with California utilities, automakers, regulators, and other research institutions to provide the rigorous research and impartial policy analysis that are needed to meet the climate environmental and equity goals of our society.

The UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, Energy Futures (EF) Program is recruiting a postdoctoral Scholar to support our efforts to develop models of the transportation systems within the United States and internationally and conduct detailed analysis using those models. Particular emphasis will be on one or more of: transitions to net-zero transportation energy systems, modeling of electric and fuel cell cars and trucks within transportation systems, and modeling hydrogen systems in the context of transportation and stationery system decarbonization.

Beyond offering critical transportation analytics to planners and traffic engineers, StreetLight Data plays a key role in empowering the next generation of transportation leaders and researchers within academic settings, including at the University of California, Davis.

Much has been written about the three revolutions transforming transportation—automation, electrification, and sharing—and about their potential to shape the future sustainability of the transportation system. Yet it is also important to consider that these profound changes in travel options may also have varying impacts on the environment. Read more...

In a report jointly published by Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy and UC Davis's Institute of Transportation, energy and transportation experts analyze changes in government policy, technology, consumer behavior and shipping during the COVID-19 pandemic and, through simulated scenarios, the impact of the changes on future global oil demand. Read the report...