| Popis: |
This paper is devoted to a survey of alternative public strategies and policies to reduce gasoline consumption by the private automobile. The framework is to consider strategies, which consist of various elements designed to help achieve the goal, as implementable through government policies which incorporate various kinds of incentives. The minimization of adverse impacts is an important consideration in evaluating and choosing between strategy and policy options. Broadly speaking relevant strategies may be classified as those which are design-related, those which affect the market for automobiles, and those which directly influence the market for gasoline. Policy options may be directed at producers, at automobile purchasers, at gasoline purchasers, and at automobile travelers. One conclusion of this survey is that there are two general of strategies relating to modifications in the automobile and its propulsion system. One is to reoptimize the automobile relative to new criteria--fuel economy and environmental cleanliness--rather than comfort, performance, and low initial cost. The other is to develop a two-vehicle strategy; small, low-powered vehicles for slow, short trips, and larger vehicles for intercity travel. A discussion is then presented of various design-related strategies. In particular, improved propulsion systems, alternative fuels, and other vehicle modifications are surveyed from the point of view of improving fuel economy. /Author Abstract/ |
