ABSTRACT
The economies of rich nations and the lifestyle of most of their residents are dependent on cars and light trucks—collectively, light-duty vehicles (LDVs). LDVs are gaining the same role in developing nations. They offer us the opportunity to go where we want when we want, subject to congestion, parking, and financial constraints. These vehicles are among our most important personal assets and liabilities, since they are typically the second most expensive asset we own, costing almost $100,000 over the lifetime of the vehicle. While LDVs are an essential part of our lifestyles and economy, the entire life cycle of an automobile, from extraction of raw materials, material production, and vehicle manufacture through vehicle use to end-of-life, is an environmental and public health concern (see Figure 6-1). Manufacturing, operating, maintaining, and disposing of the 210 million LDVs (more than one for every licensed driver) accounts for about 14% of economic activity in the United States, expressed as total commercial energy use and total materials use. Although legislation since the 1960s has eliminated much of the automobile’s environmental discharges by reducing tailpipe emissions 90 to 95%, these vehicles continue to contribute significant portions of the carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted in cities; counting discharges of engine coolant, windshield washer fluid, used motor oil, and gasoline, LDVs are responsible for a considerable amount of water pollution. Transportation accounts for 30% of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion, with just under two-thirds resulting from gasoline consumption in motor vehicles (U.S. EPA 2002). LDVs are also responsible for considerable expenditures and environmental disruption due to construction and repair of highways and parking facilities. Finally, in the United States, LDVs are responsible for approximately 42,000 deaths and four million injuries each year (U.S. DOT 2004).
