Is buying a new car environmentally friendly?
I used to live out in the country so I have a "gas guzzling" Jeep Cherokee, but now live in town. I was thinking of buying a Prius but then wondered just how much CO2 is produced making and shipping them, compared to how much is ’saved’ by having one? How many years would it take for the CO2 saved on an ongoing basis to exceed the CO2 created by making the car in the first place?
The general model is that it takes 20 years to recover the CO2 from a new car compared to running an older less efficient car. The model shown by Steve has been shown to be missnig many key CO2 uses, includnig al the extra CO2 generated by the factory staff who now have more money to spend ! Its a complex model and each spin takes it further and further way from buying a new car.
As a new car wouldn’t last that long it makes no sense to regularly change your car from an environmental point of view.
February 14th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
look at the chev Impala… best bang for the buck…and good on gas as well
References :
February 14th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Don’t think for one minute that your purchase of a new car will save the planet and make a difference to CO2 emmisions.
Buy what you really want and don’t be pushed by peer pressure or anything that will turn you greener.
You think George W Bush will have motorcade of Electric Underpowered Cars.
I think not, I rest my case.
References :
February 14th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
i dont know much about the prius off hand. but newer cars are getting cleaner. if you really want to go green, you can look into useing bio-desil. desil fuel made from recycled corn and other nat. oils.
also look into hybrids. they are much cleaner than traditional cars, and are close to equally powered now.
check out http://www.treehugger.com they have some good info on this.
References :
February 14th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
It depends how far you drive per year.
CO2 emissions caused by manufacturing and shipping a new car to you would be roughly equivalent to the emissions from fuel for the first 25000 miles for a regular car.
Toyota’s own figures (see source) reckon that it takes about 20000 km (12500 miles) to break even on CO2 compared to buying an equivalent-sized gasoline-only car brand new, and slightly adjusting their figures, I’d reckon about 60000 miles to pay back the manufacturing CO2 if you’re comparing scrapping an existing equivalent gasoline car and getting a brand new Prius.
Payback would be somewhat quicker for a more fuel-hungry vehicle, but still several years, probably around 30-40000 miles.
If you have relatively low annual mileage, your best bet would probably be a reasonably fuel-efficient used car more suited to city use, (buying a used car absolves you of responsibility for the CO2 associated with manufacture). You might then sell the Jeep to someone still living in, or moving to the country who would need such a vehicle.
References :
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/k_forum/tenji/pdf/pgr_e.pdf
February 14th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
The general model is that it takes 20 years to recover the CO2 from a new car compared to running an older less efficient car. The model shown by Steve has been shown to be missnig many key CO2 uses, includnig al the extra CO2 generated by the factory staff who now have more moeny to spend ! Its a complex model and each spin takes it further and further way from buying a new car.
As a new car wouldn’t last that long it makes no sense to regularly change your car from an environmental point of view.
References :
February 14th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
a hybrid is the best for the enviorment !!!!!!!! no gas at alll
References :