Cars are buildings: Building-like energy use in automobiles

This paper examines vehicle energy use as if vehicles were buildings. Vehicle air conditioners are much less efficient than residential air conditioners, and in the US consume about 0.9 quadrillion BTUs (quads) per year, comparable to the 2.3 by air conditioners in residences. Vehicle heating, in contrast, is a model of efficiency, running as a combined-heat-and-power system using waste heat from the motor. Electricity use from appliances such as DVD players, laptops, and refrigerators remains modest, although stand-by power use is growing. Technology and policy approaches used for buildings can address similar types of energy use in cars.

Research highlights► Building-like energy use in vehicles parallels that in buildings. ► Vehicle-generated electricity is inefficient and costs up to $1/kWh. ► Vehicle air conditioning is much less efficient than residential air conditioning. ► Technology for building-like energy in vehicles parallels that for buildings. ► Policy for vehicle energy efficiency can draw on policy approaches for buildings.