Van Pools Blog

Daniel Sperling is a Professor of Engineering and Environmental Science & Policy at the University of California, Davis and the founding Director of the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies. Professor Sperling is a long time VPSI vanpooler and serves as an Automotive Member on the California Air Resources Board, chairs the Future of Mobility Council of the Davos World Economic Forum, and has authored many books and technical papers on transportation and energy. His latest book, which he co-authored with Deborah Gordon, is “Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability”.

VP:  Congratulations on your new book, “Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability”.  Do you think the book will serve as a wake up call to the United States and the World to alter its policies of encouraging unsustainable growth of single occupant auto use and increasing greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes?

DS: I sense a growing recognition that change is needed. Support for climate change policies is increasing, California passed a new law to (try to) reduce vehicle travel and sprawl (SB375), and the Obama Administration seems strongly committed to more environmental vehicles. I am hopeful.

VP: How would you respond to auto industry claims that consumers don’t like smaller, fuel efficient cars and that is why they continued to build and sell SUVs even as fuel prices were rising to previously unheard of prices?

DS: The SUV phenomenon was a fad and partly artificial. Why? First, automakers have always promoted power and size, from the muscle cars and stylized fins of earlier generations to the huge SUVs of recent years. Smaller vehicles were sold as “economy” cars. In the US, they have rarely tried to build small vehicles that are sophisticated and high quality. If they build and promote small, high quality cars, I suspect they will be successful. Second, automakers were encouraged to sell SUVs and other light trucks by low fuel taxes, regulatory loopholes, and trade protection tariffs. Changing those rules and policies will make a big difference. Third, most vehicles are purchased by richer people, who are less sensitive to fuel costs, which explains in part the strong sales over time of larger and more expensive vehicles. Fourth, in fact, we are seeing more enthusiasm for smaller vehicles, from the Mini to the Smart and the subcompacts now being sold by most of the major automakers. We need to reverse the wrongheaded policies of the past, and adopt new policies that reward automakers for selling fuel-efficient, low-carbon vehicles, and reward customers for buying them.

VP:  How important are hybrids in addressing the challenges posed by your book?

DS:  They are important in their own right, for being far more fuel efficient. But they are also important as the first step toward electric-drive vehicles: battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell electric vehicles. Eventually almost all vehicles will likely be powered by electric motors.

VP:  What are some of the most important points you’d like people to take away from “Two Billion Cars”?

DS:  We are creating a potential catastrophe by using so much oil and emitting so much greenhouse gases—and vehicles are a chief culprit. But we can transform vehicles, fuels, and mobility. The key is policy—but also the behavior of us as individuals. As consumers, we need to buy more environmentally sustainable vehicles, as voters we need to elect politicians committed to creating strong policies and incentives, and as shareholders we need to tell corporations to pay attention to the public interest. We need leadership at all levels.

VP:  What advice would you give American consumers who already own gas guzzling SUVs and cannot sell these cars to replace them with more fuel efficient vehicles like hybrids?

DS:  The resale value of SUVs is rising. When you feel financially secure, make the switch. Remember, the fuel efficient vehicles will end up saving most people considerable money in fuel savings over the life of the vehicle. Note also that some hybrids are quite inexpensive, including the new Honda Insight coming out this spring which is expected to sell for less than $20,000.

VP:  You’ve been vanpooling for nearly two decades. What motivated you to use our service and how, with your busy schedule, have you been able to vanpool for so many years?

DS:  It saves money and I can use the time productively (working on my next book or my next lecture, or occasionally sleeping). I confess that initially I was resistant, unhappy with the rigidity of the schedule. It seemed so un-American, taking away my freedom. I eventually realized that my life was so complicated, that providing a bit more structure was actually a good thing. And my family was happy to know exactly when I would be home for dinner.

VP:  Why isn’t vanpooling a bigger part of the mix of transportation “choices” you said we needed to create during your talk at the World Affairs Council on January 13th?

DS:  Most people don’t like the rigidity of the schedule, and some realistically can’t commit to a fixed schedule. I think the answer is “smart vanpools”, whereby one can call a van at any time (via cell phone or Internet) for immediate pickup. The information technologies exist to do this, and if there were enough vans running around, the cost would be modest. Maybe VPSI should think about this new business?!

VP:  During your presentation at the World Affairs Council you stated there needs to be more innovation in the transportation sector and specifically noted that the information technology revolution of the 1990s seemed to have largely overlooked public transportation. Why didn’t smart technology find a ready partner in public transportation?

DS:  What we need is a greater diversity of mobility services. Smart vanpooling (sometimes called smart jitneys), smart carpooling where people going to the same location can easily organize themselves, and smart carsharing so that households can retire one car and get easy access to a vehicle when they need it, are all good examples of what is possible. Alas, there are many barriers to change in the transport sector. Transit agencies have been starved for so long, they are incapable and reluctant to try something new. Taxi companies resist allowing more competition. And suburban sprawl makes public transportation more challenging. But I believe the IT revolution will eventually come to transportation and we’ll see a proliferation of new, inexpensive, convenient services. After all, wouldn’t most of us rather be chauffered?

VP:  How badly do you think the current economic slow down and the precipitous decline in available investment capital will curtail spending on alternative energy and sustainable transportation solutions?

DS:  The economic slowdown is having an effect, but with supportive policies and the inevitable rise in oil prices, we will see a resurgence in low-carbon and energy efficient technology and services.

VP:  What were some of the key mobility/transportation issues discussed when you were at the Davos World Economic Forum in January?

DS:  Electric vehicles were clearly a hot topic. There was also much discussion about the next round of international climate agreements (post-Kyoto).

VP: OK, now for the really important question: How did you like being interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show?

DS:  It was awesome—greatly aided by his visit backstage before the show to calm me down. He is so funny, quick witted, and respectful (at least of me and other non-politicians). My greatest challenge was keeping up with him (as the straight man) as he caromed all over the map with jokes and witty insights.