Download file 401 KB Texto completo en español More of: Michael P. Walsh

There has been a strong and sustained growth in the number of vehicles since the end of the second world war. This increase has become an important, if not dominant, source of air pollution. This paper reviews the historic patterns of growth in the number of vehicles and their environmental impacts, the efforts to control emissions in the world, and the new initiatives to transform vehicles and fuels in order to minimize environmental impacts.
The progress in reducing emissions by vehicles using diesel and gas achieved thus far to date is presented. It is concluded that one of the most important lessons learned in the close to 50 years of controlling vehicle pollution in the world is that vehicles and fuels must be treated as a system. Improvements in vehicles and in fuels must go hand-in-hand if the intent is to progress in reducing pollution. A program focused only on vehicles is condemned to failure. So will also fail a program designed to improve only the quality of fuel. The different regulations on vehicle emissions are then debated, emphasizing the three predominant world programs, namely those of the usa (including california), the european union (eu) and japan. Lastly, aspects relating to global climate change are analyzed together with strategies to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution and advanced vehicle technologies, such as high-yield battery-powered full perfomance battery electric vehicles, city electric vehicles, neighborhood electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles.