Piedmont and Coastal North Carolina Clean Communities

Idle Reduction And Fuel Efficiency

According to the US Energy Information Administration, Americans used nearly 136 billion gallons of gasoline in 2022 – about 368 million gallons a day. Furthermore, total gasoline consumption accounted for about 57% of all consumption in the transportation sectors, 45% of total petroleum consumption and 16% of total United States energy consumption. With more than 260 million vehicles consuming millions of barrels of petroleum every day in the United States, you can do your part to use improved driving behavior and strategies to conserve fuel and improve your driving efficiency. Whether you try to employ idle reduction strategies or simply carpool to work with coworkers, there are many ways to conserve fuel and save yourself money.

Idle Reduction and Efficient Driving

Drivers can conserve fuel by learning how different driving behaviors affect fuel economy and by adopting techniques to save fuel and money. There are several efficient driving techniques one can use, including idle reduction, driving conservatively, combining trips, reducing vehicle load and more.

Ridesharing / Carpooling

Ridesharing programs help connect people to travel together which can reduce travel costs, traffic and parking demand. Some local and regional governments even provide incentives to encourage ridesharing, such as access to high occupancy (HOV) lanes, discounted fees on roads or lanes, and special parking privileges for vehicles with multiple passengers.

Electric & Hybrid Vehicles

On the automotive market today, consumers can choose from three different types of EVs: all-electric, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

Driving electric, hybrid and plug-in vehicles has a whole host of benefits including energy security, cost savings, a better fuel economy and reduced emissions. Electric vehicles (EVs) require less expensive and less frequent maintenance while offering high quality performance, known for operating smoothly and quietly while also providing more torque and agility when driving.

Gaseous Fuels

Alternative fuels, otherwise known as non-conventional and advanced fuels, are derived from resources other than petroleum. Gaseous fuels such as hydrogen, natural gas and propane produce fewer carbon emissions and harmful particulates than standard diesel. Many of them are also produced domestically, making them more accessible with an established distribution network, relatively low cost and emissions benefits.

Alternative fuels enable the United States to diversify its fuel supply with domestic fuels and reduce overall consumption of imported petroleum in recent years. These fuels are also more environmentally friendly, with hydrogen producing no air pollutants or greenhouse gases, while natural gas and propane produce up to 10% less greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable Fuels

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that motor gasoline is the main product produced by U.S. oil refineries and accounts for one of the most consumed fuels in the country. In 2022, about 90% of total U.S. transportation sector energy use was contributed by petroleum products. Renewable energy, however, could help diversify the nation’s reliance on petroleum products. Coming from sources that are naturally replenishing but flow-limited, renewable resources are virtually inexhaustible in duration. Renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel are often domestically produced, making them more accessible and reducing transportation costs for businesses and consumers.