Accession Number:

ADA556629

Title:

Ending America's Energy Insecurity: How Electric Vehicles Can Drive the Solution to Energy Independence

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Stein, Fredrick

Report Date:

2011-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

86.0

Abstract:

The homelandnational security threat posed by the United States dependence on foreign oil has been part of the American discourse for years yet nothing has been done. No pragmatic, realistic step-by-step plan has been pursued to end this scourge on the American people. The solution can be found in the problem. Net imports of oil account for approximately 50 percent of the oil the U.S. consumes. Likewise, 50 percent of oil consumed in the U.S. is consumed as motor gasoline. If overnight the U.S. stopped using oil to power its vehicles, if overnight drivers switched to electric vehicles, then overnight the U.S. would become energy independent. Using historical data to establish the effect of gasoline price changes on consumer vehicle choice, a predictive model has been created showing the expected switch to electric vehicles if the price of gasoline increases and the cost of electric vehicles decreases. There is a cost to energy independence two to five dollars per gallon of retail gasoline sold. If monies raised from the tax are used to lower the price of electric vehicles, build recharge infrastructure, and dampen the regressive nature of the tax, energy independence is a few short years away.

Descriptors:

• *GASOLINE
• CRUDE OIL
• ELECTRIC PROPULSION
• ENERGY
• HOMELAND SECURITY
• MODELS
• NATIONAL SECURITY
• POLICIES
• TAXES
• THESES
• VEHICLES

Subject Categories:

• Economics and Cost Analysis
• Surface Transportation and Equipment

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE