Sustainable Transportation Solutions

 

1. The Aptera
   a three-wheeled aerodynamic vehicle made from ultra-light (but super strong) composites. Both a hybrid-electric and electric-only model will be on the roads soon.



2. Bicycles
   a great, sustainable transportation alternative to the automobile for individuals and businesses.
3. Biodiesel
   an alternative, vegetable-based fuel for diesel engines.
4. California Air Resources Board Strict Emissions Standards
   "clean air agency" of the state of California in the United States. It is known for setting extremely stringent standards for air quality. Rules adopted in California oblige automakers to reduce their global-warming emissions by 30 percent, starting in 2009 and culminating in 2016.
5. Canada and Carmakers Sign Tough Emissions Pact
   major automakers agreed to voluntarily reduce the global-warming emissions of cars and light trucks sold in Canada by 5.3 million metric tons, or about 25%, by the end of 2010. It could force automakers to adopt similar stringent emissions rules for vehicles sold throughout the United States.
6. Car Sharing
   a system where a fleet of vehicles is owned and operated by an organization or individual and is made available for use by members of the carshare group. Find a car sharing organization near you.
7. Community Bicycle Program
   program which provides free (or nearly free) access to bicycles for inner-city transport. The goal is to reduce the use of automobiles for short trips inside the city and diminish traffic congestion, noise and air-pollution
8. Clean Fleet Guide
   tools to help company fleets make "green" vehicle and fuel decisions.
9. Congestion Pricing
   a system of surcharging users of a transport network in periods of peak demand to reduce traffic congestion.
10. Dynamic Ridesharing
    also known as online/instant/real-time ridesharing/ridematching or casual carpooling. Combines a high-tech instant rideshare request system with incentives for drivers to invite passengers into their otherwise single-occupant vehicles.
11. Electric Vehicles
    a vehicle with one or more electric motors for propulsion.
12. Ethanol - Potential Alternatives to Land/Food-Based Ethanol (learn more: The Clean Energy Scam):
    1. Algae
    2. Second Generation Biofuels (except for potentially invasive grasses)
13. Flexible Fuel Vehicle
    an automobile that can typically alternate between two sources of fuel.
14. Hybrid Vehicle
    a vehicle using an on-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a fueled power source for vehicle propulsion. Hybrids pollute less and uses less fuel.
15. Hydrogen Vehicle
    a vehicle that uses hydrogen as its on-board fuel for motive power.
16. Hypercar
    applying whole system design concepts to the automobile. The hypercars defining features are ultralight construction, low-drag design, hybrid-electric drive, and minimized accessory loads.
17. Improvement: Clean Diesel
    in the next few years, the diesel industry will virtually eliminate key emissions associated with on- and off-road diesel equipment. This environmental progress is the result of the new clean diesel system – combining cleaner diesel fuel, advanced engines and effective exhaust-control technology.
18. Improving Fuel Economy of Vehicles
    by far the best tool we have for reducing oil consumption.
19. Light Electric Vehicles
    vehicles ranging in size from electric scooters small enough to fit under a bus seat up to one-person cars capable of driving on in freeway HOV lanes.
20. Improvement: Liquid Petroleum Gas Vehicles
    a mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in vehicles.
21. Kite Sails
    large sails that attach to ships to reduce energy consumption by 10-35%.
22. Motorized Bicycles
    a bicycle with an attached motor used to assist with pedaling.
23. Paratransit
    an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules.
24. Planning: Bicycle and Pedestrian Friendly Land-Use Codes
    direct land use and transportation development to be convenient for pedestrian, bicycle and transit users.
25. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
    a hybrid which has additional battery capacity and the ability to be recharged from an external electrical outlet.
26. Public Transportation
    comprises all transport systems in which the passengers do not travel in their own vehicles.
27. Reimbursing Bicycling at Personal Auto Use Rate
    great idea - a company is reimbursing their employees for bicycled miles at the standard mileage rate set by the U.S. IRS for automobiles.
28. Ridesharing
    sharing an automobile ride with a stranger within and between towns and cities. Numerous internet sites now make the process convenient.
29. Smart Growth
    used by those who seek to identify a set of policies governing transportation and land use planning policy for urban areas that benefits communities and preserves the natural environment.
30. Sustainable Transportation Movement
    shifts the emphasis in public spending and actions away from building and supply, to management and demand. The movement focuses on the values of heightened respect of the environment and prudent use of natural resources.
31. The Shell Eco-marathon
    the annual marathon challenges contestants to drive as far as possible using the least amount of energy.
32. Transit-Oriented Development
    a residential or commercial area designed to maximize access to public transport, and often incorporates features to encourage transit ridership.
33. Zero-Emissions Vehicles (ZEV)
    produce no emissions or pollution when stationary or operating.