Our Recent Clean Vehicles Accomplishments
UCS recommendations helped shape the Obama administration’s new fuel economy standards.
Secured a historic boost in fuel efficiency.
UCS helped strengthen new car and light-truck rules that reduce heat-trapping emissions and provide the largest increase in fuel economy in more than three decades; we also provided analysis and built support for an even stricter future standard.
Other UCS analysis showed that heavy-duty truck fuel economy standards—which the Obama administration has proposed—can save money, create jobs, and reduce emissions and oil use.
Empowered consumers to make smarter purchases.
Our online Hybrid Scorecard (www.hybridcenter.org) is a groundbreaking tool for evaluating the environmental performance of hybrid vehicles. And our Automaker Rankings 2010 report (the fifth in the series) reveals the truth behind automakers’ environmental claims.
Introduced a plan to slash U.S. oil dependence.
Through improved efficiency, low-carbon biofuels, vehicle electrification, and better transportation choices, our National Oil Savings Plan can cut projected oil use in half by 2030. We succeeded in incorporating its key principles into proposed Senate legislation.
Defined a role for biofuels in combating global warming and oil dependence.
Our report The Billion Gallon Challenge shows policy makers how to move away from corn-based ethanol—which can result in more heat trapping emissions than gasoline—and toward the first billion gallons of low carbon "cellulosic" biofuels.
