Motor Vehicle Pollution:
What You Have Already Done, and What You Can Do Now.
Facts on Fuels,
Rules, and Automobiles
Presented by Caleb
Taplin
How did this all get started?
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It wasn’t until 1952 that automobiles were first acknowledged to be linked to
air pollution. Since then emissions have been increasing every year as more and
more people drive cars that lack fuel efficiency. In 1990, 54 million metric
tons of emissions were emitted from mobile sources.
What can be the side effects of these levels of emission?
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Over 74 million people are exposed to high levels of at least one of the
pollutants found in emissions, which include carbon monoxide, volatile organic
compounds, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and lead.
All of these can have adverse health effects, and some other lower level
pollutants from vehicles are known carcinogens, such as benzene and
formaldehyde.
What can I do to help reduce my impact on these emissions?
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When shopping for a vehicle, choose the most fuel-efficient
vehicle that meets your needs.
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Look for vehicles that meet EPA low-emission or
ultra-low-emission standards.
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Consider buying a flex-fuel vehicle, which can
operate on gasoline or E85 (Ethanol/Gasoline blend) and both combined.
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Look into buying a hybrid, which offers 20 to 30
percent better mileage.
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Perform regular maintenance. Failing to do so
could increase emissions.
What will the S.1285 Hybrid and Electric Trucks and Infrastructure Act
do to lower emissions?
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Increase and extend through 2015 the tax credit
for new qualified hybrids.
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Allow tax credit for fuel-efficient heavy trucks
and heavy electric vehicles.
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Extend through 2014 the tax credit for
alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures.
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Allow a tax credit through 2014 for installation
of electric idling reduction devices.
As you can see, this bill has much to offer for the reduction of emissions, which is a necessity as we cannot continue to support the trend of growing emissions. Email, write, or call your Representatives and let them know how you feel on this issue.
