''Older vehicles pollute way more than these new models,'' are we constantly reminded as salespeople steer us towards their ''environmentally friendly'' new-car offerings. Are they right? Is buying the ''latest and greatest'' that manufacturers offer, every eight years, the best option?
Green-tinted glasses
Every time we fill up we look at the price of fuel and convince ourselves that we are emitting way less CO2 with our shiny new ride. Didn't we do the right thing when you consider the incredible 5,5L/100 km fuel economy rating, which is so much better than that old jalopy that we sort of neglected? After all, it was getting old and doing so much harm to the environment.
Change comes at a cost
This new ''greener'' car had to be built from scratch. They can beat us over the head all they want with fuel economy ratings and CO2-per-mile statistics. ''Oh look Daddy, this cute thing doesn't pollute at all: it only burns 5,5L/100 km! Fact is, keeping your car in peak running order reduces the demand to produce new ones.
Speaking of production, let's not forget the mining and production of the raw materials, some 30 tons, transportation of these materials, vehicle production, waste, intercontinental shipping, tests, marketing, the slick dealerships with their 24/7 lighted showrooms, and everything else that goes into producing these ''green'' vehicles.
Automotive production environmental impact studies aren't that easy to find. The French ADME (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Énergie) studies reveal that approximately 7 metric tons of CO2 are released in the production of a 1,300 kilogram vehicle. UCLA American production numbers are between 7 to 10 tons, as the average European vehicle weighs 1,262 kilos versus 1,820 for American vehicles.
If we use these figures to calculate the emissions produced for a Toyota Camry, which weighs 1,740 kilos, we are looking at 8,5 metric tons of CO2 per vehicle.
A not-so-marked difference
If you dig around into past fuel economy ratings, we can see that the 2003 Toyota Camry had an estimated fuel consumption rating of 6,2L/100km highway. The equivalent 2013 model burns 5,6L/100km.
We can then calculate that the 2003 Toyota Camry emits 2,9 tons of CO2 per 20,000 kilometers, compared to the 2013 model and its 2,6 tons. The difference is less than 0,3 tons of CO2.
How many years?
Therefore, the very first kilometer driven in a new car is the equivalent of 58,600 kilometers driven in your old car in terms of CO2 emissions, which amounts to 8,5 tons. But don't fool yourself, as every kilometer driven in your new car is producing CO2 . In order to negate the total amount of CO2 emitted by vehicle production with the improved fuel economy, you will need 28 years!
Reducing CO2 emissions from your old vehicle
Preventive maintenance is the key. Universal catalytic converters can also be added to your vehicle even if it was originally built without one.
Let's answer the sustainable development argument with a well-maintained older vehicle instead of letting new vehicle salespeople lead the conversation. You need not go through the tedium of driving the same old car for the next 20 years, but a properly maintained fleet certainly is the best way to go green.
Sources:
www.gnesg.com
www.scientificamerican.com
www.statcan.gc.ca
www2.ademe.fr
Green-tinted glasses
Every time we fill up we look at the price of fuel and convince ourselves that we are emitting way less CO2 with our shiny new ride. Didn't we do the right thing when you consider the incredible 5,5L/100 km fuel economy rating, which is so much better than that old jalopy that we sort of neglected? After all, it was getting old and doing so much harm to the environment.
 |
| Mercedes SLS AMG Black series: not very green (Photo: Daimler) |
Change comes at a cost
This new ''greener'' car had to be built from scratch. They can beat us over the head all they want with fuel economy ratings and CO2-per-mile statistics. ''Oh look Daddy, this cute thing doesn't pollute at all: it only burns 5,5L/100 km! Fact is, keeping your car in peak running order reduces the demand to produce new ones.
Speaking of production, let's not forget the mining and production of the raw materials, some 30 tons, transportation of these materials, vehicle production, waste, intercontinental shipping, tests, marketing, the slick dealerships with their 24/7 lighted showrooms, and everything else that goes into producing these ''green'' vehicles.
Automotive production environmental impact studies aren't that easy to find. The French ADME (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Énergie) studies reveal that approximately 7 metric tons of CO2 are released in the production of a 1,300 kilogram vehicle. UCLA American production numbers are between 7 to 10 tons, as the average European vehicle weighs 1,262 kilos versus 1,820 for American vehicles.
If we use these figures to calculate the emissions produced for a Toyota Camry, which weighs 1,740 kilos, we are looking at 8,5 metric tons of CO2 per vehicle.
A not-so-marked difference
If you dig around into past fuel economy ratings, we can see that the 2003 Toyota Camry had an estimated fuel consumption rating of 6,2L/100km highway. The equivalent 2013 model burns 5,6L/100km.
 |
| Toyota Camry: greener (Photo: Toyota) |
We can then calculate that the 2003 Toyota Camry emits 2,9 tons of CO2 per 20,000 kilometers, compared to the 2013 model and its 2,6 tons. The difference is less than 0,3 tons of CO2.
How many years?
Therefore, the very first kilometer driven in a new car is the equivalent of 58,600 kilometers driven in your old car in terms of CO2 emissions, which amounts to 8,5 tons. But don't fool yourself, as every kilometer driven in your new car is producing CO2 . In order to negate the total amount of CO2 emitted by vehicle production with the improved fuel economy, you will need 28 years!
Reducing CO2 emissions from your old vehicle
Preventive maintenance is the key. Universal catalytic converters can also be added to your vehicle even if it was originally built without one.
Let's answer the sustainable development argument with a well-maintained older vehicle instead of letting new vehicle salespeople lead the conversation. You need not go through the tedium of driving the same old car for the next 20 years, but a properly maintained fleet certainly is the best way to go green.
Sources:
www.gnesg.com
www.scientificamerican.com
www.statcan.gc.ca
www2.ademe.fr