Published: November 2009 | Category: Sustainable land transport , Research programme , Research & reports | Audience: General
To assist in meeting climate change commitments, there is a target to reduce the per-capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transport to half the 2007 levels by 2040. Light vehicles contribute 93% of the total kilometres travelled by the fleet in New Zealand, and about 81% of the greenhouse gas emissions.
This report reviews the range of light vehicles available today. It considers the fuel and engine technologies that are available at present or will be become available in the near future. For each of these vehicle, fuel and engine technologies, the emissions and fuel efficiency performance is evaluated.
The transport demand for light vehicles is assessed, and a range of options for improving the fuel efficiency and emissions performance of the New Zealand light-vehicle fleet are considered.
Keywords: alternative fuels, emissions, fuel efficiency, GHG, greenhouse gas, light vehicles
