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carbon dioxide and cars

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The level of carbon dioxide produced by a new car is specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Carbon dioxide emissions are quoted in grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer travelled (g/Km).

Small cars such as a new VW Polo will emit around 100g/Km. My older X registered Citroen Xzara's emmissions are nearer 170 g/Km.

The amount of carbon dioxide emitted by traffic is quoted in metric tons (tonnes).

A VW Polo needs to drive 1000/100 = 10 kilometers to emit 1 Kilogram of carbon dioxide.

The same car needs to travel 1000 x 10 = 10,000 Km to produce 1 tonne of carbon dioxide.

If a VW Polo driver drives 12,000 per year which is about 20,000 Km the car would emit about 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Carbon dioxide emissions from cars have reduced by 13 percent in the past 10 years. The average emissions from new cars is now 165 g/Km.

Above figures published by DEFRA: www.DEFRA.gov.uk