Big CO2 emissions from U.S. passenger cars
Today’s choices will have an impact for years to come
The automobile fleets of General Motors, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler each create more carbon pollution than American Electric Power, one of the largest electricity producers in the U.S. Environmental Defense, a nonprofit, released this and other comparisons of car emissions in June in its report Global Warming on the Road. In 2004, personal vehicles in the U.S. emitted 314 million t of CO2, equal to the amount of carbon in a coal train that is 55,000 mi long, the group estimates. While most analyses consider the global warming impact of new vehicles, this project marks the first time that researchers have included emissions of new and used vehicles. Three factors determine emissions: driving distance, fuel economy, and gasoline’s carbon content. Fuel producers, automakers, and consumers can all take steps now to reduce CO2 emissions from cars. The report includes tips on how drivers can reduce CO2 emissions while on the road and suggests ways to choose a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
