http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Carbon-emissions-are-driven-down.6734729.jp
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"Carbon emissions are driven down as cars become more efficient"
(10 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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What a rubbish headline. The article is not much better. It's telling us that, compared to 10 years ago cars are more efficient, and as a result of that, they emit less CO2.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Relax, car-bound readership! Buying a shiny new car (Mmmmm! Brrrm brm brrrrrm!) is an environmentally friendly act!"
Posted 13 years ago # -
Yeah, not quite the whole story though:
Number of cars/vans in Scotland in 1980: 1.398m
Number of cars/vans in Scotland in 2009: 2.381m(Source: Scottish Transport Statistics)
Greenhouse gas emissions from transport were higher in 2008 (latest figures) than in 1990 (Source: Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2008). Transport is the only sector where emissions are continually increasing.
1,000,000 extra cars in 30 years! It's difficult to comprehend.
Posted 13 years ago # -
It's telling us that, compared to 10 years ago cars are more efficient, and as a result of that, they emit less CO2.
HEALTH WARNING: The CO2 data on any new car is based on a warmed up engine. People who only do a couple of miles emit more.
This is not a reason to drive further though...!Manufacturers get away with implying their cars are like air-freshening products - which must certainly be news for those who suffer from asthma.
My daughter notes that Fiat now have a car called the Air (and she wants one :-(
Posted 13 years ago # -
Something else that bugs me is the widespread belief that, somehow, 56mph is the most efficient speed to drive at.
E.g.:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/16/in-praise-of-speed-limit
"If you want to cut costs, the optimum speed for most drivers is 56 mph"
Posted 13 years ago # -
Fiat 500 Twin Air - has two cylinders, like the original, so the 'air' actually relates to the air being pushed into the cylinder...
That said, however, they do make a play on its economy (69mpg apparently) and emissions (95g/km), the name certainly hasn't been lightly chosen.
Always funny to see cars advertised as 'environmentally friendly'. In reality they are simply 'a little less environmentally harmful'.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Number of cars/vans in Scotland in 1980: 1.398m
Number of cars/vans in Scotland in 2009: 2.381mBliss was it in that dawn to be alive. How quiet the roads must have been.
Interesting statistic. I assume we must all have a lot more disposable income to pay for these cars (although, having a car is a necessity, if not a basic human right, so that's not really disposable income, is it?). ;) Or perhaps the cost of motoring has gone down (until now), despite the headlines?
Posted 13 years ago # -
The 'real' cost of motoring has plummeted. Despite it being more expensive to run, actually owning a car has never been cheaper.
Posted 13 years ago # -
In 1980 I didn't have any cars, now I've got three.
Things must be getting bad. Twice in the last week people have come to the door asking if the 1993 Volvo 940 sitting on flat tyres in the drive was for sale.
It's not.
Posted 13 years ago #
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