Trucks, Sport Utility Vehicles, and Vans/Minivans

These vehicles (SUVs, Vans, and Pickup trucks with less than 8,500 pounds gross weight) are classified as "Light Trucks." In the past, they were mostly owned by farmers and tradespeople - people who needed to regularly haul large items. Since 2000, however, they've enjoyed a new popularity as a family car. Although few people truly need to own an SUV, fully 50 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States since 2000 have been in the Light Truck Category.

How do these vehicles produce pollution? Like cars, these vehicles burn gasoline or diesel, which are hydrocarbon-based fuels. The ideal combustion products of gasoline, IF the process is 100 percent efficient, are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). However, combustion of these fuels in vehicles today is far from 100 percent efficient. In fact, recent calculations show that light trucks are less than 20 percent efficient. If that's the case, then more than 80 percent of the fuel is being converted into other types of byproducts, like nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants.

Unfortunately, combustion of fuel isn't the only polluting process associated with light trucks. You also have:

• mining for raw materials to build the vehicle
• manufacturing plastics to build the vehicle
• building roads and parking facilities for the vehicle to use (the U.S. has spent well over $100 billion on its Interstate system, and that doesn't include all the other roads that are not part of the Interstate system).
• building and maintaining gas stations, and cleaning up spills and leaks that frequently occur
• disposal of the vehicle at the end of its "life"

How much pollution do they produce? Light trucks produce significantly more pollution than a passenger car, and use a lot more fuel. In a year of average use, a light truck emits roughly:

• 108 pounds of hydrocarbons,
• 854 pounds of carbon monoxide,
• 55.8 pounds nitrogen oxides,
• 16035 pounds carbon dioxide,

... and uses 813 gallons of gasoline.

Are there laws regulating this pollution?
Sort of. The Clean Air Act regulates vehicle emissions, but light trucks have not been subject to same emission requirements as passenger cars. New light trucks are currently permitted to emit 3-5 times as much pollution as the average new car. The U.S. EPA has proposed that by 2004, these trucks will have to be in compliance with the same standards as cars for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.

How could they be made to produce less pollution?
The average national fuel economy for the year 2000 was 20.5mpg - the lowest since 1980. According to the EPA, currently new light truck technology is aimed at increasing vehicle weight and performance rather than fuel economy. If light trucks had maintained their average 1981 weight, their fuel efficiency today would be 25% higher. Higher standards for manufacturers could help significantly.

The first thing consumers can do is decide if they really need a light truck, or if a more efficient passenger car will suit their needs. If you simply MUST buy a light truck then keep it in top condition. Vehicle owners are responsible for maintaining their vehicle's efficiency once it leaves the dealership. Taking the vehicle in regularly for servicing and performing simple maintenance tasks can reduce the amount of pollution your vehicle produces.

Different fuels can also reduce auto emissions - for information, check out the Easy Breathers Fuels section.

And, of course, you can decide to walk, bike, bus or carpool occasionally to reduce the amount of time you spend driving.

More information

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Transportation and Air Quality: Highway Vehicles - Emissions, Transportation Choices & Fuel Issues: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/hwy.htm

U.S. Department of Energy/ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Web site: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/index.htm