Mobile Sources

"Mobile sources" is a term used to describe a wide variety of vehicles, engines, and equipment that generate air pollution and that move, or can be moved, from place to place. Mobile sources pollute the air through combustion and fuel evaporation. These emissions contribute greatly to air pollution nationwide and are the primary cause of air pollution in many urban areas.

Mobile sources also produce several other important air pollutants, such as air toxics - pollutants known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health or environmental effects. In the US, mobile sources represent the largest contributor to air toxics. They also directly contribute to the high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2).

Mobile sources are divided into two categories. The first, known as "On-road" or highway sources, include vehicles used on roads for transportation of passengers or freight. "Nonroad" sources include vehicles, mobile engines and other equipment used for construction, agriculture, transportation, recreation, and other purposes. Within these two broad categories, on-road and nonroad sources are further distinguished by size, weight, use, and/or horsepower.

In order to correctly account for your carbon footprint and accurately track your green house gas emissions, it is important that you include all emissions from mobile sources within your organization. This can be an overly burdensome task when you have large fleets of vehicles that are responsible for moving your products or if you employ extensive nonroad sources in your daily activities.

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