General Motors recently announced that the company “aspires to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035.” Many in the press were quick to credit GM for this announcement, but it’s important to remember that aspirations are only the first (and easiest) step in any plan. Read more >
David's Latest Posts

Why is the Transition to Clean Cars by 2035 Critical? To Avoid Worsening Impacts of Climate Change and Air Pollution
September 25, 2020 2:11 PM EDT
California is already seeing the impact of climate change, with droughts, heat waves, and of course the unprecedented wildfires seen this summer. If the state follows through on the recent announcement from California’s Governor Newsom setting a target of 100% zero emission new car sales by 2035 and other states and countries follow, we can avoid even worse impacts of climate change. Read more >

Exposure to Air Pollution from Vehicles in Illinois Is Inequitable — It Doesn’t Have to Be
February 19, 2020 3:56 PM EDT
Exposure to PM2.5 pollution from cars, trucks, and buses varies greatly within Illinois. Concentrations are highest in urban areas and downwind of those areas; Chicago and its immediate surroundings are affected the most. Cook County, including Chicago, not only has the state’s highest PM2.5 pollution exposure, but it also is one of the nation’s worst affected counties. Read more >

La contaminación del aire causada por los vehículos en Illinois es injusta, y no tiene porqué serlo
February 19, 2020 3:11 PM EDT
Los autos, camiones y buses son fuentes significativas de contaminación del aire en Illinois. Pero, ¿cuanta de esta contaminación es atribuible a estos vehículos?, y ¿quiénes están expuestos a ella?
Para ayudarme a responder esta pregunta, he usado un modelo computarizado para estimar la cantidad de partículas finas de materia que causan la contaminación del aire (conocida como PM2.5) que resulta del uso de vehículos en carretera (autos, camiones y buses.) Read more >

Are Electric Vehicles Really Better for the Climate? Yes. Here’s Why
February 11, 2020 2:08 PM EDT
One of the questions I’m most frequently asked about electric vehicles (EV) is: “Are they really a cleaner option?” While it’s obvious that a fully-electric vehicle eliminates tailpipe emissions, people often wonder about the global warming emissions from generating the electricity to charge an EV. The latest data affirms that driving on electricity produces significantly fewer emissions than using gasoline and is getting better over time.