Critical Mass: The One Thing You Need to Know About Green Cars

In an era where climate change dominates global discourse, Felix Leach and Nick Molden dive deep into the complexity of vehicle emissions in their groundbreaking new book. Building on the insights from Felix's previous work, Racing Toward Zero, this new release confronts the bewildering landscape of automotive pollution with a clear, rigorous approach: what one piece of information can best describe the environmental impact of cars?

Our digital age bombards us with information, yet meaningful understanding often eludes us, particularly when it comes to climate issues like road vehicle emissions. As simple solutions to such a complex problem remain elusive, Leach and Molden advocate for a sophisticated, yet accessible perspective. They propose a radical simplification of how we consider the environmental impact of cars and explore the multifaceted impacts of various vehicle powertrains, pushing beyond CO2 emissions to address broader environmental and societal concerns.

The authors introduce the Molden-Leach Conjecture, a bold, universal solution that evaluates vehicles through a holistic lens. This conjecture offers a comprehensive framework to assess and regulate environmental impact, aiming to simplify complex choices for consumers and policymakers alike. They propose a new paradigm for taxing vehicles as we move away from fossil gasoline and diesel, enabling policymakers to address pollution and underpin tax revenues simultaneously.

In a world where climate action is critical yet convoluted, Leach and Molden's book promises clarity and actionable insight. It's not just about finding answers-it's about finding the right ones. Join the journey to demystify automotive emissions and drive meaningful change.

"As a former Secretary of State for the Environment and, later, Industry I welcome this contribution to the most important challenge of our time."

Michael Heseltine, former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Felix Leach is an Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, in addition to Director of Studies, Fellow and Tutor in Engineering Science at Keble College. Felix has published over 70 peer-reviewed research papers, and has spent over a decade working in close collaboration with industry using world-leading measurement capabilities to help develop a clean engine. His work engages with public policy on vehicle emissions and air quality, involving projects with the Oxford Bus Company and local councils. Felix holds MEng and DPhil degrees in engineering science from the University of Oxford and is a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a member of SAE. Felix has been fortunate enough to be the recipient of many awards, including for his first book Racing Toward Zero, co-authored with Kelly Senecal, published by SAE International.

Nick Molden is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Emissions Analytics Ltd, a company he set up in 2011 to specialize in the measurement of real-world emissions from vehicles. The company pioneered the development of on-road test methodologies, including the launch of the EQUA Index in 2016. He has published many peer-reviewed academic papers, collaborates with universities around the world, presents regularly at industry conferences, and acts as an expert witness in court cases internationally. Nick is a Founder and Director of the AIR Alliance, a not-for-profit organization that publishes free public ratings for the real-world emissions and interior air quality of vehicles. He is chairman of two standardization groups within the Comité Européen de Normalisation: CEN Workshop 90 on urban tailpipe nitrogen oxide emissions, and CEN Workshop 103 on pollution ingress into vehicle interiors. Nick holds an MA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from the University of Oxford. He is also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Imperial College London.