Efficient Trucks
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Economics, Engineering
Authors: Project Drawdown, Daniel Kane, Ruth Metzel; Senior Fellows: Mamta Mehra, Eric Toensmeier, Ariani Wartenberg; Senior Director: Chad Frischmann
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This resource is currently being revised by Project Drawdown but you can research many of the other solutions in detail on their new Drawdown Explorer page.
- This resource details the potential climate benefits of adopting efficient trucks in the freight industry.
- Students will learn about current trucking emissions, the impact of trucks, fuel usage, adoption scenarios, and the specific changes that can be made if efficient trucks are adopted in the near future.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource is written and structured in a clear and meaningful way that will enable students to interact with complex ideas.
- The data presented in the article will allow students to draw their own conclusions or integrate their learning into other related topics.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should understand the impacts of fossil fuel consumption and efficiency.
Differentiation
- Cross-curricular connections can be made in economics, civics, and math classes by discussing how potential economic incentives and governmental impacts could increase adoption of this measure, or by using the data included in the article to create real-world math problems.
- This resource would be an excellent component in an activity where students read about and debate different climate solutions. Break students into groups and assign each group an article from Project Drawdown, then have the groups explain the importance, results, and potential impacts of their article's topic.
- As an extension, have students use the "What You Can Do" section of the article to advocate for more efficient trucks in their communities or from companies that they support.
This website introduces a solution to reducing emissions by making transport trucks more efficient. A brief introduction of reducing emissions by making new trucks more efficient and retrofitting existing fleet trucks is included. Methodology, scenarios, and models are provided, along with results and discussion about shifting long-haul heavy truck industry to a more efficient model. This site would be a great addition to a lesson discussing alternative methods to reducing carbon emissions. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
