Sport Utility Vehicles
SUVs and light trucks make up nearly half the number of new passenger vehicles sold in the United States each year.

Because of lower fuel-economy requirements and relaxed pollution standards, today's average light truck emits 47 percent more smog-forming pollutants and 43 percent more global-warming emissions than the average car. Federal standards to protect public health and the environment have not kept pace with either the rapid increase of polluting SUVs or the evolution of engineering solutions.

While it is clear that automakers have the technology to build a greener SUV, recent history has shown that such a vehicle is unlikely to make it to market without policy pressure. Converting technological innovation into real-world fuel-economy gains requires raising standards and developing other policy solutions to pull fuel-sipping vehicles onto the road.

Simply eliminating the fuel-economy loophole for light trucks could slash US global warming pollution by over 240 million tons annually when fully phased in. Despite their long history as environmental laggards, there is still time for light trucks to make the environmental grade.

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