The Rise of SUVs in the US and Its Impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from 2000-2017

Since the 1970s, the United States has strengthened fuel economy standards in order to reduce oil consumption and emissions from light-duty vehicles. However, there has been a dramatic market shift away from cars and towards light trucks, particularly sport utility vehicles, during this same period. This study quantifies the total impact of the rise of light trucks from model years 2000-2017. These additional light trucks will produce 867-3,519 million short tons of greenhouse gases across their lifetimes, compared to three alternative scenarios. These emissions are enough to offset 19-75% of the projected savings from the model year 2011-2025 CAFE standards. The combined cost of these emissions and the increased risk of traffic fatalities light trucks pose may reach $94.3-350.7 billion. These costs indicate the need for the federal and state governments to update transportation policies, including amending fuel economy standards, raising fuel taxes, and regulating vehicles based on weight.