Golden State Today

Dan Sperling envisions a future dominated by electric vehicles. “I think there's a global acceptance that electric vehicles are the future,” Sperling stated. “It's really just a question of exactly how and how fast.” While the United States is gradually adopting this technology, California stands out as a leader in this transition.

“In China now, over a third of new car sales are electric vehicles. In Europe, it's about a quarter,” Sperling noted. “In the United States, it's less than 10%.”

UC Davis boasts over 50 faculty members who belong to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. These academies recognize distinguished achievements in research. Each month, Dateline UC Davis profiles one such faculty member to honor their contributions.

Sperling is a Distinguished Professor of civil and environmental engineering and environmental science at UC Davis. He is also the founding director of the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) and the Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and Economy. The institute employs over 150 faculty, staff, and students.

“We have everything from pavement research to automated vehicles and everything in between,” Sperling said, describing ITS as “the leading university center on sustainable transportation in the world.”

Sperling was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 2022 for his leadership in transportation energy and advancing alternative energy policies.

The institute’s international presence includes centers in China and Europe with plans for expansion into India and ongoing initiatives in Mexico. ITS participates in ARCHES, a public-private partnership aimed at creating a sustainable clean hydrogen hub in California.

“We're very committed to being seen as an independent, balanced source of knowledge,” Sperling explained.

A key mission of ITS is connecting science with policy. The National Center for Sustainable Transportation within ITS recently received $20 million to lead universities studying transportation's environmental effects. Funding recipients must identify government collaborators to ensure relevant research outcomes.

Sperling earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. He has authored or co-authored more than 250 technical papers and 13 books.

He played a significant role in popularizing "sustainability" through co-directing studies like California’s low-carbon fuel standard of 2007 and contributing to policies such as the zero-emission vehicle mandate of 2012.

“California clearly has the most comprehensive set of policies to address climate change of any major governmental entity in the world,” Sperling remarked.

Through ITS, Sperling led delegations to countries including China, India, and Australia to study transportation's impact on climate change firsthand.

“Australia is one of the few major countries without fuel economy or greenhouse gas standards for vehicles,” he observed. “And that's about to change.”

Beyond policy contributions, Sperling takes pride in changing perceptions within transportation towards sustainability and mentoring students who have become leaders globally.

“I grew up on a chicken farm with no aspirations," he reflected on his career trajectory as "way more than I ever expected."

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