Buy an Efficient Car
With the emergence of peak oil and climate change as growing issues, car manufacturers have been focusing their engineers on fuel efficiency, aerodynamics and hybrid technology. So when you’re next in the market for a new set of wheels consider buying an efficient car.
Cars are the primary mode of transport in Australia with most households having at least one. The current generation of cars emit greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. For every litre of petrol used in a motor vehicle, 2.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2), is released from the exhaust.
The new breed of efficient cars and hybrids are increasing fuel efficiency by significant margins and with electric cars about to emerge onto the car market in the new few years, soon we shall have cars with zero carbon emissions.
As one of the major investments for most families, car efficiency also means lower running costs, better insurance rates and even green loans.
How to do it now!
The efficiency of the vehicle (design, engine, weight, etc.) determines the fuel consumption and the amount of greenhouse gases and air born pollution released per kilometre, so there are plenty of factors to consider to reduce the emissions you create.
Buying a new efficient car
Fuel efficient cars have the following benefits:
- They produce fewer CO2 emissions, lowering their impact on the environment and contribution to climate change.
- They consume less fuel and are therefore less expensive to run, year in year out. With peak oil, carbon taxes, and climate change concerns pushing the price of fuel up, the savings derived from increased fuel efficiency will only increase.
- They highlight and focus the economy and community on the value of our efficient use of energy.
As the following table demonstrates, an efficient car reduces both your annual CO2 emissions and the amount of money you pump into your car at the petrol bowser.
| CO2 Tailpipe Emissions from Petrol Vehicles | Costs and Dollar Savings from Efficient fuel consumption | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel Consumption | Annual CO2 Emissions | Petrol cost per 15000KM (@$1.50 /litre) - 10 yrs | Additional cost (VS most efficient) |
| 6 L/100km | 2160 kg | $13,500 | $0 |
| 8 L/100km | 2880 kg | $18,000 | $4,500 |
| 10 L/100km | 3600 kg | $22,500 | $9,000 |
| 12 L/100km | 4320 kg | $27,000 | $13,500 |
NOTE: Based on 15,000 kilometres annually
The Green Vehicle Guide rates new Australian vehicles based on greenhouse and air pollution emissions. Anyone buying a car can use the guide to identify the vehicle which best meets their needs as well as one that reduces the impact on climate change and urban air quality.
You can use the Fuel Consumption Label on new vehicles to compare the fuel consumption of different vehicles and estimate how much it will cost to run cars of different models and makes.
To give an indication of potential savings, a difference in fuel consumption of just one L/100km will cost (or save) the average motorist about $195 a year. This is assuming the motorist travels 15,000 kilometres during the year and petrol costs $1.30 a litre. If the price of fuel per litre increases by 10 cents, the difference in annual fuel costs increases by $15.
Emissions from different fuels
The Federal Governments Greenhouse gas emissions calculator allows you to estimate your vehicle's greenhouse gas emissions.
Fuels differ in the amount of carbon and energy they contain as well as other characteristics, with implications for fuel economy and greenhouse emissions. The table below lists the amount of CO2 emitted from the exhaust for each litre of a particular fuel covered by the calculator.
| CO2 Tailpipe Emissions/Litre of Fuel Consumed | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | CO2 Emissions |
| Petrol | 2.3 kg |
| LPG | 1.6 kg |
| Diesel | 2.7 kg |
The reason the weight of CO2 emissions is greater than the weight of fuel is because of the addition of oxygen from the atmosphere to the fuel during combustion to form CO2.
It’s also important to know, how much fuel is consumed to travel a given distance. LPG has lower greenhouse emissions per litre of fuel consumed than petrol, but also has a lower energy content. Therefore equivalent vehicles tend to consume more of LPG than petrol to travel a given distance. In the case of diesel, its greenhouse emissions per litre are higher than petrol, but engines designed to operate on diesel tend to be far more fuel-efficient than petrol engines. To be sure that one vehicle has lower greenhouse emissions than another use the Greenhouse gas emissions calculator.
Hybrid Cars
A new generation of hybrid car technology is combining electric engine and battery technology with super efficient combustion engines to further reduce emissions and increase the efficiency of hybrid vehicles.
New hybrids are planned to be on sale in Australia in the next few years. If you are looking at a new car, try to stay informed of these new developments.
Electric Cars
In the push to reduce our carbon emissions the combustion of fossil fuels will eventually make way for a new way to power our cars. The most likely successor is the electric car, with models becoming increasingly available. Electric cars can be fueled by charging electric batteries or by using Hydrogen as a fuel and converting the hydrogen to electric power via a fuel cell.
Combined with renewable electricity, an electric car is an emissions free solution that is cheaper to run than their fossil fueled ancestors.
Some of the issues to consider with electric cars are:
- The range the car will travel prior to requiring the batteries to be re-charged.
- The availability of quick re-charging stations.
- The environmental cost of the construction of the electric car
- The source of the electricity used to charge (i.e. is the power from burning coal or from renewable sources?)
- Evolution speed of the electric car technology. How quickly will the technology change and evolve and when is the best time to purchase an electric car.
Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, Nissan and many other car makers are rolling out electric cars over the coming years. To stay informed try EV World.
Government Rebate - LPG gas vehicle conversion
The LPG Vehicle Scheme offers grants of $2,000 towards the purchase of a new vehicle already fitted with LPG or a grant of $1,750 for the LPG conversion of a new or used vehicle. You can only apply for one grant every 3 years.
By converting to LPG, you can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your car, one of the main contributors to climate change. For more information on this rebate visit the Australian Government Living Greener website.
Resources
- When buying an older vehicle check the Fuel Consumption Guide.
- Don't forget to check the fuel consumption label on all new vehicles.
- Request your free Green Vehicle Guide Kit featuring poster and bumper stickers
- Fuel Economy
- Driving Habits
- Car Efficiency
- Smart Principles
- Drive Smarter
Why this action is important?
Transportation vehicles produce most of the key chemicals that pollute the air, causing smog and health problems. Global warming is also related to automotive exhaust emissions. Greenhouse gases trap heat and contribute to global warming by keeping a significant percentage of infrared radiation from escaping into space.
We can all do our part to help reduce climate change by purchasing a vehicle with higher fuel economy and taking on board some of the aforementioned tips for fuel efficient driving.