Open Access Article Originally Published: April 24, 2007
We are all aware of the peak oil theory and its consequences. Even though it is the correct view, there isn’t much good news to be found in it. But instead of sitting in despair, what can we do to make the situation better? How can we all make a contribution?
The remaining petroleum MUST be used more efficiently. I say this not only because later generations deserve some of the advantages of using petroleum, but because by making oil last longer we gain time in the struggle to find alternatives.
Okay, so how do we use it more efficiently? Does each person need to trade in their current vehicle for a high-mileage model? Or ride a bicycle everywhere? Not necessarily.
The high rate of oil usage in the U. S. is due in part to the fact that we’ve allowed too many low-mileage vehicles on the road. But it is also due to the fact that we use most of our cars and trucks inefficiently. That is, we worry only about miles per gallon (mpg). And even there we don’t worry enough. But our major concern should be passenger miles per gallon (pmpg). This is calculated as (miles per gallon)×(number of passengers), which means that even with an average car, a solitary driver can immediately double or triple his or her pmpg merely by taking along a passenger or two. Sorry, pets don’t count.
Cars are built to move people from one place to another. So, let’s increase the efficiency with which we do that. I am no longer happy when driving alone and getting 25 miles per gallon. My personal goal is that on every highway trip I get at least 60 passenger miles per gallon. In fact, why not have a national goal? I say every highway trip, even for just driving to work, should set 60 pmpg as a target, and this goal should be increased by 2 pmpg each year.
As always, raising the mpg of new cars is still important. One good means to accomplish this would be to raise the federal CAFE standards. But enacting legislation, having the automobile companies comply, and then getting a majority of these newer vehicles on the road takes a long time. Increasing pmpg can begin today and is feasible for every driver.
The key word, then, is CARPOOL. Share the ride. The benefits are obvious—cleaner air, longer-lasting roads and automobiles, lighter traffic, lower demand and price for petroleum, and greater energy security. These are all desirable outcomes, for individuals and governments alike.
But how do we start this carpooling thing? Is it possible that our state and federal elected officials can help boost public interest in this idea? It seems a natural thing to do—the cost is low and the potential return is very high. This leads me to begin my search for carpool information on the internet, with government web sites.
First, I thought that the federal government might be helpful. Bad idea. Looking on the web site of the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT), I could find no mention of carpooling and no links leading to carpooling information.
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8 comments so far...
25-Apr-2007
55932
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Hard to knock this common sense. Along with 'drive less' and 'drive smarter', we can add 'drive in company'. The automobile has tended to isolate the individual from society. On the other hand, public transit throws the individual into a crowd in which, at least here in Toronto, individuals behave as if they are alone. We accept the notion of meeting a stranger at a cocktail party, but not on public transit. What if carpooling started to fill the social function that modern society leaves to cocktail parties and watering holes?
Posted by: Henry Rose
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25-Apr-2007
55934
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This is the elephant in the room of energy efficiency, yet no one talks about it! Thanks Bill, this has more oil displacement potential than all the biofuels put together, and requires the investment of a couple of phone calls. I carpool in a Prius so my passenger MPG is 100 right now.
Posted by: Dave K
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25-Apr-2007
55934
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This is the elephant in the room of energy efficiency, yet no one talks about it! Thanks Bill, this has more oil displacement potential than all the biofuels put together, and requires the investment of a couple of phone calls. I carpool in a Prius so my passenger MPG is 100 right now.
Posted by: Dave K
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25-Apr-2007
55936
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I car bicycle-car pool with 3 in our prius. That's about 150 pmpg ! and fun, 2 of us get to bicycle home after all riding in together. most work places don't have showers or lockers but bicycle-car pooling fills the void.
Posted by: jim stack
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25-Apr-2007
55952
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Great research, but if I could take issue with your title... You are assuming that great leaps in mpg, >2:1, are out of the question. That's a Detroit/Washington assumption, not an EVWorld reader assumption. (Getting 3 or more people in a carpool routinely is very difficult without costing a lot of time and flexibility.)
There are other issues involved, such as congestion and smog. Other answers too, such as platooning and electric drive. Technically, we could make cars so we can live with them through technology only. Best of course is to promote both.
Posted by: P L Schager
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25-Apr-2007
55959
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I've used my own metric for awhile, gallons per month (gpm). I've gone from 46 to 13, and dropping more with a fortunate move by my workplace. Since this is gallons I've used for myself, carpooling would have the same effect on this metric as on pmpg, except inverted (if pmpg doubles, then gpm halves) since those gallons are shared by two or more people.
Schager: Carpools are feasible (particularly for employees of the same company), and instantly double or triple your pmpg, no change in technology or need to build a new car to do this. It's like checking your tire-pressure - instant benefit. Doubling your mpg is also important for new car purchases, but that only happens every 4-5 years on average, so the effects take awhile.
Stack: I like the bicycle-car pool idea. Then you're not tied to leaving as a group
Posted by: Rob Neff
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26-Apr-2007
55977
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Another metric not mentioned is total miles/vehicle. I understand that 1/2 the energy cost of a vehicle is it's creation. Isn't it better to maintain older vehicles in good condition and run them longer to distribute the original energy investment over more miles?
Posted by: Jim W
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26-Apr-2007
55981
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This seems to me another excuse to gloss over the fact our cars are too inefficient.Why car pool with four or five people when a bus would be even better.The point is we are still using the oil inefficiently when we could be getting 40 to 60 mpg while carrying a full load and thats even better.Cars are available right now that are capable of this only not in America that is except for the Prius and certain Hondas.
I would rather the effort be put into getting these cars here than trying to set up a nation wide car pool scheme.Ideally both but can't see Americans car sharing.
Posted by: D Gate
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