Guide to a Clean-Air RideHow to buy a cleaner car — and save money on gas, too!
All new vehicles under 8500 pounds (cars, and most SUVs and light-duty trucks) are required to have a Smog Index sticker on the window, so if you don't see it, ask.
1. You want this number as close to zero as you can get. This number reflects how the vehicle is doing in smog emissions as compared with other vehicles of the same model year. A score of zero or almost zero here would not mean the vehicle produces zero pollution, just that the vehicle is doing better than most other vehicles of that model year. 2. Make sure you look at the scale the sticker is using. Halfway between zero and one is much better than halfway between zero and two. 3. The Smog Index of the average new 2007 vehicle is 0.40 (average for new 2006 vehicles is 0.58). Remember, higher-polluting light trucks and SUVs are combined in this average. If a car has a Smog Index that's just at the average, then its emissions are not that low. In addition to a Smog Index number, vehicles are rated for their air pollution by the California Air Resources Board. It's important to remember that these ratings mean different things for trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles than they do for cars. Cars rated as PZEVs (partial zero emission vehicles), AT PZEVs (PZEVs that include an advanced technology component, such as a hybrid system), and SULEVs (super ultra low emission vehicles) are extremely clean. The ratings of ULEV (ultra low emission vehicle) and LEV (low emission vehicle) for new cars don't mean as much as they used to, since new cars are mostly already LEVs. For more details on ratings, see this page on this site, and see Links below.. Gas Mileage, Global Climate Change and Tips In addition to emitting smog pollution, vehicles emit greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change. Vehicles that get many miles per gallon save money on gasoline, use up less of a nonrenewable energy resource, and produce less of the pollution that contributes to global climate change. For more on global climate change, see this page. While some hybrid cars achieve high numbers of miles per gallon, many gas-only cars do well in this area too. It's important to check the gas mileage numbers, as vehicles differ a fair amount in this area. No matter what vehicle you drive, you can improve your gas mileage, and reduce pollution. Here are some ideas.
You can reduce car trips by walking, biking, carpooling, vanpooling, taking the bus, shuttle or train, or shopping online. Check out your commute options at www.trafficsolutions.info, and for recreation options, see www.SantaBarbaraCarFree.org. Here are some tips for buying a cleaner used vehicle.
Ratings: An '05 or '06 SUV rated "super ultra low emissions vehicle" (SULEV) can produce ten times the pollution of a SULEV car, due to the differences in the standards and ratings for trucks and SUVs. Mileage: You may not get the promised miles per gallon, because of the way this is tested. Changes in test methods that are coming in the future will result in more accurate ratings. It's anticipated that all the miles per gallon numbers may be adjusted slightly downwards once new methods are used; ratings for diesel and hybrid vehicles may be reduced the most. Hybrids: Some of the hybrid cars currently on the market do very well in gas mileage, and are very clean (often rated as AT PZEVs). But you want to check the numbers and the ratings. There are differences between hybrids, and some gas-only cars do extremely well in gas mileage and air pollution ratings. If you are already planning to buy an SUV, hybrid SUVs tend to do better than gas-only SUVs— but not as well as many cars. For more on transportation fuels and technologies, see APCD newsletter article (PDF file) Biodiesel vehicles (today) Biodiesel vehicles are typically diesel vehicles that have been adjusted to run on biodiesel. The term "biodiesel" is used to refer to a variety of different substances: B100, a fuel that is 100 percent "virgin" vegetable oil, often soy oil, or a fuel that is 100 percent recycled vegetable oil (often recycled from restaurant use); and B20, a fuel that is up to 80 percent petroleum diesel and 20 percent vegetable oil (recycled or pure). The emissions from biodiesel vehicles can vary a lot, depending on the type of vehicle and fuel's composition, and whether or not there are any emission controls installed on the vehicle. Typically, older diesel cars do not have advanced pollution controls, and from an air pollution standpoint, a PZEV, SULEV or ULEV gas or hybrid vehicle will run much cleaner than an older diesel vehicle without advanced controls burning B20. However, there are renewable energy and other advantages to use of biodiesel, especially B100 made from recycled waste vegetable oil. More new and used hybrids of all kinds (today) Automakers are producing gas-electric hybrid versions of more and more of their models. As new hybrid models become available, buyers will trade in older hybrids, and make more used hybrids available. More flexible fuel choices (soon) FlexFuel vehicles that can run on either gasoline or E-85, an ethanol fuel (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) are commercially available today; however California as very few E-85 fueling stations, as the state is determining the regulations that will apply. Plug-in hybrids (later) Plug-in hybrids are hybrid gas-electric vehicles that have an option to run on electric-only, with batteries that can be plugged in to recharge. For longer trips, they can function as traditional gas-electric hybrids. These vehicles are under development, and may become available in the next few years. New greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements (later) California vehicles will be required to have reduced greenhouse gas emissions starting with model year 2009. Hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine vehicles (later) Some automakers, including BMW, are developing internal-combustion-engine vehicles that burn hydrogen instead of gasoline. Issues involving hydrogen storage and fueling are being addressed. These vehicles may well be available before hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, and could be the first users of the Hydrogen Highway network of hydrogen fueling stations currently under development. Some are exploring hydrogen-electric hybrids, in which hydrogen is used instead of gasoline in the internal combustion engine. Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles (much later) Most major automakers have fuel cell vehicles in development. A variety of issues must be resolved; it will be several years before fuel cell vehicles are widely available. See links below for more information. EPA Green Vehicle Guide:Compares vehicles, and provides gas mileage, a greenhouse gas score, and an air pollution score (for smog pollution, using a different scale from both the Smog Index and the California ratings) California Air Resources Board "Drive Clean" Site: Information on air pollution ratings, new kinds of cleaner cars, and a search function by vehicle type. U.S. Department of Energy Fuel Economy Site: Driving and car care tips, details on fuel economy. Alternative Fuels Data Center: Lots of info on alternative fuels and technologies California Energy Commission publication for fleets: "Get help with your alternative fuel transportation project!" (PDF file) Global Climate Change page on this site, with links for more information. California's Greenhouse Gas Rule announcement Driving Less links: www.SantaBarbaraCarFree.org, and www.trafficsolutions.info. California Fuel Cell Partnership: the latest on fuel cell vehicles. California's Hydrogen Highway.
For more information, contact Mary Byrd at (805) 961-8833. |
New!
The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency just
released fuel economy figures for 2007 model vehicles. View the fuel economy
leaders here:
