That's the estimated number of gallons of fuel wasted each year in US  traffic jam. Total cost $100 to $200 billion per year.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/report-u-s-traffic-congestion-wastes-1-9-billion-gallons-of-gas-each-year-and-costing-you-money/

To me this is the killer argument against those that say that electric cars  pollute more than gasoline cars. A recent China study tried to show that electric cars caused more pollution than gas cars because the electricity is produced from coal. http://inhabitat.com/new-study-finds-that-electric-cars-can-pollute-more-than-their-gasoline-counterparts/  Traffic jams in China are just as bad as those in the US.

Just to state the obvious EV do not use fuel in traffic jams (except for cooling and heating).

Much of the media (Fox especially and the BBC) are pushing hard opposing the electrification of cars while in the same breath bemoaning the high cost of gasoline and advocating for more drilling. Their special interest prpoganda may be having an effect and likely is slowing EV take up.  I beleieve that  they are fighting against the inevitable. Gas prices  will continue to rise along with world wide consumption. The cost of producing solar electricity and batteries will continue to fall as technology advances. EV's will become more competitive very quickly.

The media needs to stop promoting short term drilling as the answer to high gas prices and start talking about real solutions to the energy crisis.

Sorry for the rant. This was prompted by watching a ridiculous review of the Nissan Leaf on Top Gear last night. ie drive the Leaf  until its batteries are flat to a place where they know there are no charging stations and then push the car around town to get a charge.