Relationship between consumers and cars
The U.S. automotive industry represented some 14.5 million light vehicle sales in 2020, with the majority having gasoline ICEs. Motor vehicle gasoline consumption had steadily increased through 2019, reaching over 146 billion gallons in that year. Motor gasoline is by far the energy source in highest demand in the U.S. transportation sector, dwarfing distillate fuel oil by over seven quadrillion British thermal units in 2020. Carbon dioxide emission levels of light-duty vehicles, the mode of transport projected to use the most energy in 2020, have lowered in the past few years. Pickup trucks, the vehicles with the steepest emission levels, went from emitting some 470 grams of CO2 per mile in 2017 to 460 grams per mile in 2020. Other vehicle types recorded similar drops.Environmental awareness
Environmental concerns are beginning to disrupt the monopoly held over the industry by gasoline-powered vehicles. Fuel ethanol or "biofuel" production has skyrocketed from 175 million gallons produced in 1980 to an estimated 13.8 billion gallons produced in 2020. Alternative fuels provide options for consumers to drive vehicles that emit significantly decreased levels of air pollution. Electric vehicles employ the use of electric motors, which allow consumers to drive without concerns over emitting dangerous air pollutants. However, these types of vehicles still present concerns over efficiency, battery range, and safety. In some states, vehicle licensing fees remain higher for electric vehicles than for standard vehicles, adding to the lack of incentives for drivers to switch to battery-electric cars. Gasoline-powered vehicles are losing their stronghold over the automobile industry, but the jury is still out over when alternative fuel options will overtake the beloved vehicles that pushed Americans to hit the road.
