News

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...

California has taken a leadership role in reducing carbon emissions, setting a goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. Decarbonizing transportation, the largest source of emissions in the state, will be key to achieving this goal. This webinar series highlights findings from a recently released state-commissioned study - Driving California’s Transportation Emissions to Zero - that identifies scenarios and related actions for achieving a carbon-neutral transportation system in California, while also improving equity, health, and the economy.

by UC Davis News and Media Relations

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in California. In order to achieve the state’s goals of carbon neutrality by 2045 and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, decarbonizing this sector is essential. But such a transition is unlikely to occur rapidly without key policy intervention. Read more...

An interview with the godfather of transportation decarbonization

--Decarbonizing Transportation

By Debapriya Chakraborty, Scott Hardman, Seth Karten, Gil Tal

To design the best electric vehicle policies—affecting their sale, manufacturing, and charging—we need to know whether electric vehicles can function as replacements for gasoline vehicles. Addressing this question is controversial and important. Bringing clarity is critical because some interest groups opposed to electric vehicles state that less usage indicates that electric vehicles are an inferior substitute for gasoline cars, and thus not deserving of government support.

By Scott Hardman and Jiyoung Park

Here’s a major policy success of 2020 that probably slipped by most people in the United States: Korea, the sixth-largest producer of automobiles and home to the third-largest automotive group in the world (Hyundai-Kia), successfully implemented its own zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) sales regulation—with help from ITS-Davis researchers.

By Miguel Jaller, Anmol Pahwa, Seth Karten

With more states and individuals observing stricter limits on in-person shopping, and with holidays coming, what can we do to limit the environmental and societal impact of online shopping? And even beyond this moment, how do we minimize the harm—or maximize the benefit—of online shopping to society and life on our planet?

By Dan Sperling, Lew Fulton, and Vicki Arroyo

By Seth Karten, Austin Brown, Gil Tal, and Scott Hardman

California recently announced plans to electrify nearly all new cars and trucks by 2035. Is this possible? If so, how?

A review by the Policy Institute’s Austin Brown, Kelly Fleming and Hannah Safford exploring the available technologies and key challenges for electrification of the transportation sector. Electrification is necessary to fight the current impacts of transportation on climate change, and is possible with current and future technologies, infrastructure and policy.

By Giovanni Circella and Rosa Dominguez-Faus

Mobility has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing and people working from home, travel has decreased significantly. However, as the economy has started to reopen, single-occupant car travel and bicycling have increased, while the use of public transit, ride-hailing, carpools, and shared e-scooters remains low. Read more...

Following the recent adoption of Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) rules in California, China’s EV100 and the U.S.-China-Netherlands ZEV Policy Lab (UC Davis-CATARC) co-hosted China- California ZEV Truck Policy Workshop through Zoom on July 29th, California time. There were 127 attendees, representing 38 leading international and domestic manufactures, think-tanks, NGOs, and international organizations from Asia, North America, and Europe.

By Lew Fulton and Dan Sperling

The path to zero-carbon transportation may be cheaper than you think. It need not cost trillions nor even billions. And it could even be “free” to taxpayers. Read more...

What is the future for electric vehicles? Are they destined to push out gasoline and diesel cars, or will they be niche players? How does California compare to China or Europe, in this transformation? Which technology will win, and where? Read more...

Forbes