1. A car or truck using a gallon of gasoline produces about 19.4 pounds (8.8 kg) of CO2.
2. A typical SUV such as a Mercury Mountaineer SUV gets 21 mpg at 65 mph.
3. A typical mid efficiency vehicle such as a Toyota Camry (non hybrid) has a fuel economy of about 35 mpg at 65 mph.
4. If you drive 20,000 miles (32,000 km) per year, the SUV will use 952 gallons of fuel which creates 18,476 pounds (8,398kg) of carbon dioxide.
5. If you drive 20,000 miles (32,000 km) per year, the mid efficiency vehicle with 35mpg rating will only use 571 gallons of fuel which creates 11,086 pounds (5,039kg) of carbon dioxide.
6. On this basis, replacing your SUV with a mid efficiency vehicle makes sense for your finances and makes sense for the environment.
7. If you drive 5,000 miles (8,000km) per year or less, the fuel savings difference is only 95.25 gallons, which amounts to 1,848 pounds of carbon dioxide. It took a significant amount of energy to make your vehicle and it will take significant energy to properly recycle it. On this basis I recommend that you KEEP THE SUV until it ages to the point where it needs significant maintenance provided that you:
(1) check the tires for proper inflation every month;
(2) keep the vehicle properly tuned up;
(3) drive at 65 mph on the highway, (55 mph whenever possible)
(4) keep stop and go city driving to a minimum;
(5) brake and accelerate gently;
(6) Use the SUV or Light truck when you are traveling with more than 4 people, towing a load, or doing work that requires a SUV or Light truck;
8. Consider getting a smaller, more fuel efficient car for occasions that do not require the size and power of a SUV or Light truck.
9. It is important to consider total life cycle accounting into all of your financial and environmental decisions. A very expensive high efficiency vehicle that required huge resources to make or which has toxic byproducts at the end of its useful life may reduce carbon emissions during operation but involves “hidden” carbon in its manufacture or recycling, and may pose other risks to health and the environment.
***************************************************************************************
Don’t forget to check other practical write ups from Quick Reality Check Series
