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Vehicle Ownership and Use in VT Travel Model

Brief Project Description:

Vehicle performance data from the EPA, vehicle registration data from the Vermont DMV, manufacturer's data from the NHTSA Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing, travel behavior data from the NHTS, and federal fuel efficiency standards from the C.A.F.E. program were leveraged to develop a sub-model of vehicle ownership and use in Vermont. The sub-model allows vehicle-trips in the Vermont Travel Model to be assigned to one of seven specific vehicle classes, characterized by their fuel efficiency and emissions rates. This addition enables to forecasting of future privately-owned passenger vehicle fleets in Vermont and statewide fuel use and emissions. Forecast scenarios are now possible to examine growth in the fuel efficiency of vehicle classes, shifts in the composition of vehicle classes, and higher fleet turnover rates typical of policies like:

  • MPGe-based vehicle purchase incentives, like Replace Your Ride, MileageSmart, and State of Vermont Incentives for New Electric Vehicles
  • A higher gasoline tax
  • Higher CAFE standards
  • Advanced Clean Cars II
  • Fleet turnover incentives, like Cash for Clunkers    

Poster:

 

Fact Sheet     Presentation Slides     Presentation Recording

Presenter: Jim Sullivan, UVM TRC and Karen Sentoff, VHB

Contact: Jim Sullivan, UVM TRC, james.sullivan@uvm.edu; Karen Sentoff, VHB, ksentoff@vhb.com