What Technology Produces The Lowest Emissions?
For environmentally conscious drivers, there are more options today than ever before. If anything, there are almost too many: E85, hybrids, new diesel technology, and even standard gasoline engines provide a number of options for drivers wanting to reduce car emissions. But which one is better for the environment?
Gas Vs Diesel Power
Diesel engines have traditionally been seen as dirtier than their gasoline counterparts, thanks in part to their high sulfur emissions. That’s changing though. With new government regulations, diesel fuel now has 97 percent lower sulfur emissions. Combined with new regulations for diesel engine manufacturers, driving a new diesel will be just as environmentally friendly as a gasoline engine.
Admittedly, neither is great when it comes to cleaning up the air. But what diesel lacks in emission friendliness, it makes up for in resource conservation. Diesels not only are more fuel efficient than gas engines, but they last longer too. For instance, a diesel Volkswagen Jetta is over sixty percent more fuel efficient than its gasoline counterpart. And it’s not unheard of for a diesel engine to last over 400,000 miles. Diesels might not be the cleanest technology around, but they do a lot in terms of helping conserve the Earth’s resources.
Another great aspect of diesel is its versatility. When blended with diesel fuel, biodiesel can be used in a standard diesel engine. Biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable and results in fewer emissions. For the more adventurous out there, there are conversion kits available that make diesel able to run on filtered cooking oil. But so far, such converters have been unapproved by the Environmental Protection Agency, and how they affect emissions is up for debate.
E85 – Better Emissions, Lower Efficiency
E85, which is a blend of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol, has been found to reduce greenhouse emissions by around 20 percent. Flex fuel vehicles that are currently on the market, such as the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe, can run on either E85 or standard gasoline.
It sounds great on paper, but in reality E85 might not be the most environmentally friendly choice. Tests have shown that the Tahoe’s fuel efficiency drops by 27 percent when running on E85. Not only that, but E85 can be pretty tough to find if you don’t live in the Midwest. E85’s lower emissions are great, but what good is it if you can’t buy the fuel?
Hybrids – The Clear Winner
When it comes right down to it, it’s hard to beat hybrid vehicles when it comes to emissions. The EPA’s top two best scorers on emissions are the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, each scoring a 9.5 out of 10 on air pollution, and 10 out of 10 on greenhouse emissions. The best part is that both cars run on regular gasoline, so you won’t have to drive for miles to find a pump.
The only real drawback of (hybrid vehicles /hybrid-vehicle.html) is their real world fuel efficiency. The Prius touts a maximum of 60 miles to the gallon, but you’ll be hard pressed to get that in reality. The problem is that the EPA’s fuel efficiency tests were not designed with hybrids in mind. Due to their reliance on regenerative braking, the actual efficiency you get out of a hybrid is largely based on your driving habits. If you take short trips, or if you exceed speed limits, expect to get a lot less out of a gallon.
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