Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, Europe/EU, Japan, UK, USA
U.S. cars still polluting tons more than Europe or Japan
In Europe, a large percentage of all cars and trucks are sold with diesel engines, which generally consume less fuel and produce a smaller amount of carbon emissions per mile. In Japan, diesel engines still aren't all that popular, but small displacement and tiny footprint Kei cars sell in extremely high numbers. These little cars have engines the size of motorcycles, displacing about 660 cubic centimeters each. For these reasons, studies indicate that the average vehicle in both Europe and Japan emit a little over 3-tons of CO2 while cars in the States emit over nearly 6-tons each. Similarly, the average car overseas get over 40 miles per gallon. In the U.S.? About 23 mpg.
There are a couple of reasons that U.S. buyers are driving less efficient vehicles, aside from personal taste. Automakers don't offer nearly as many diesels in the States as they do in Europe and those Kei cars are only legislated in Japan. We're not totally convinced that all of these figures from JATO Dynamics are completely accurate either, but the fact remains that the U.S. has plenty of catching up to do when directly compared with other automaking countries.
[Source: Carscoop]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Snowdog 8:06PM (11/14/2008)
Need more differentiation between CO2 and harmful pollutants.
Diesels emit less CO2 but more pollutants that actually hurt human health. Many Euro cities have air quality issues directly attributable to Diesel.
I am glad diesel isn't the number one choice or our air would be much worse.
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Fredster 6:15AM (11/15/2008)
@Snowdog, you've never heard of DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter)?
The latest BMW 330d can do EU6 TODAY. EU6 is supposed to be "enforced" in 2014 and they are doing it today, and this is with an engine that produces 245PS, 520NM Torque, 0-100 in 6,1 seconds and is restricted to 250KM/H (155MPH) -> this all with an avg. fuel consumption of 5,7 l/100km. Now this car is really over the top for average Joe, but show me a (US) car that is this efficient with same performance figures.
No wonder the "big three" are asking to be bailed out, after all they have been making junk the last 20-30 years, sitting on their a$$es and just watched the world go by. Well, i hope they will not get bailed out! They need to get their $hit together and start making cars that people want and start to compete with the Japanese and Europeans, like for real, they shouldn't even bother if they in for the long run, cause a half- a$$ed try is just even more ridiculous.
And why the hell does US cars have to have a V8 or minimum a V6? I mean, the speed limit is like what, max 75MPH in some states? And for that you need 200-300-400 HP? Downsizing is the right way to go, just look at VW with their 1,4l TSI's. And it does easily do 75+MPH;-)
Sorry for letting out some steam:-)
Snowdog 8:27AM (11/15/2008)
I was just pointing out that Diesel is not a panacea, it actually produces more pollutants, not less. Of course I heard of DPFs, but again that doesn't solve the problem, just improves things. It is still very difficult and expensive to get a diesel burning anywhere near as clean as gas.
On the efficiency side I do agree with the editorial. Everyone tends to over sized vehicles in North America. Which annoys me because in the past it limited my choices. Americans don't like hatchback so for a few years you couldn't even buy one. Soon it will be American don't like shifting so I won't be able to buy a manual. We still don't get hatches or wagons they do in europe (no civic hatch, no accord wagon and new mazda 3 is sedan only) which are practical and reduce the "need" to buy hulking SUVs. Not only that but I hat being trapped behind the rolling blind spots on wheels.
My last 3 cars were small 4cyl, manual transmission cars. Something Detroit showed open disdain for. Now they are circling the drain.
I would love it if major cities street traffic was replaced by small Japanese class 660cc engined mini cars. Air pollution would be slashed, visual pollution would be slashed and there would be more room on the roads.
tankd0g 10:50AM (11/15/2008)
The latest 330d is not representative of even 1% of the cars on the road today. Europe is packed with diesels that have no particulate filters and these will be on the road for many years to come. Worrying about CO2 emissions is a scam geared toward selling offsets.
Frankbank 11:30PM (11/14/2008)
Wow,
It's unbelievable how ABG can allow Jeremy to be so prejudicial to twist a simple fact in order to try to beat down US automakers. It borders on anti US/US automaker propaganda.
First, he tries to turn cars sold in the US market into "US cars", and attempt to give the impression that US automakers make dirtier cars than foreign cars. He is using imprecise grammar to shift meaning.
The world "still" has no actual meaning in the title, but somehow implies there has been a problem and a period of time in which to overcome it, but it has come up short.
The picture accompanying the article shows a cloud of tailpipe emissions. However, the articles only talk of CO2. CO2 is not visible.
Snowdog catches the second lie, that CO2 isn't pollution. CO2 is an essential part of life. CO2 is not dirty, CO2 doesn't make smog. Air pollution from cars is principally in the form of the regulated emissions, like NMOG, CO and NOX and particulates.
The strictest standards in the world have and currently are standards in the US. The US has led the world in reducing regulated emissions technology and has the lowest emissions. PVC valves, AIr injection, recirculation, fuel injection, electronic engine control, and catalytic converters were pioneered by US automakers.
It is exactly correct that Europe actually has lower air quality standards for NOx and particulates than the US in order to allow more diesels. The US does not allow cars to be dirtier because they are diesel.
it is a shame the ABG gives a soapbox to Jeremy's ignorance and his intention to try to look hip by beating down on US companies at a time when they are reeling from the larger credit crisis. Apparently, self hate passes for cool, and journalistic credibility is a luxury that he can live without.
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Chris 10:35AM (11/15/2008)
Agreed. This article displays a heavy bias, making it seem that we should all be driving 660cc cars. Japan is an island, you can do that there. The landscapes and mass transit infrastructures are wildly different between the U.S. and Japan.
Nick 12:52AM (11/15/2008)
Frankbank:
I've seen both worlds, and let me tell you: The air is a lot dirtier in the U.S. Yes, the U.S. has some pretty high restrictions on diesel powered cars, but that has exceptions: It's only targeting 'cars'. Any other vehicle from pick-up trucks, SUVS to tractors can spew black clouds of smoke into the air (as witnessed every day on the freeway).
The U.S. system has so many exceptions that the end result is a thick layer of smog over every larger city. Also, gasoline powered SUVs and trucks in the U.S. would be illegal in Europe because they emit as much pollutants as several small cars.
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BobAsh 6:25PM (11/15/2008)
No, they don't. If we're talking pollutants, and not CO2, WHICH IS NOT POLLUTNG. And as for the NOx, CO and others, American cars are usually better than European - and were so since 1970s, when US versions of European cars had to be detuned to meet stricter US standards. I have never heard about single American truck or SUV that couldn't be registered in Europe because of emissions - and I've seen pretty much all of them here.
sydbot 1:13AM (11/15/2008)
Except you're wrong Nick. At least for about 2 years. The EPA clamped down on the major NOX and soot polluters, semi-trucks, a few years ago so any of that black smoke is older trucks. And I am certain there are older trucks to found everywhere. And there is not a "thick layer of smog over every larger city" in the US. At least not that I've noticed. Never seen it driving/flying into Chicago, San Diego, LA, Detroit. (did see it driving into Tijuana) I know there are smoggy days in some big cities, but that has more to do with wind patterns and location. And those big cities make up a very small amount of the US. Can't say I can make a fair comparo with Europe as I chose to take my big trip abroad down under. And I didn't see any smog there and I'm pretty sure every fifth car I saw was a gasoline guzzling Commodore, Falcon or Territory, not to mention the many other SUVs they have. Check your elitist facts before you spew false information.
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sydbot 1:14AM (11/15/2008)
Except you're wrong Nick. At least for about 2 years. The EPA clamped down on the major NOX and soot polluters, semi-trucks, a few years ago so any of that black smoke is older trucks. And I am certain there are older trucks to found everywhere. And there is not a "thick layer of smog over every larger city" in the US. At least not that I've noticed. Never seen it driving/flying into Chicago, San Diego, LA, Detroit. (did see it driving into Tijuana) I know there are smoggy days in some big cities, but that has more to do with wind patterns and location. And those big cities make up a very small amount of the US. Can't say I can make a fair comparo with Europe as I chose to take my big trip abroad down under. And I didn't see any smog there and I'm pretty sure every fifth car I saw was a gasoline guzzling Commodore, Falcon or Territory, not to mention the many other SUVs they have. Check your elitist facts before you spew false information.
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sydtron 1:16AM (11/15/2008)
Except you're wrong Nick. At least for about 2 years. The EPA clamped down on the major NOX and soot polluters, semi-trucks, a few years ago so any of that black smoke is older trucks. And I am certain there are older trucks to found everywhere. And there is not a "thick layer of smog over every larger city" in the US. At least not that I've noticed. Never seen it driving/flying into Chicago, San Diego, LA, Detroit. (did see it driving into Tijuana) I know there are smoggy days in some big cities, but that has more to do with wind patterns and location. And those big cities make up a very small amount of the US. Can't say I can make a fair comparo with Europe as I chose to take my big trip abroad down under. And I didn't see any smog there and I'm pretty sure every fifth car I saw was a gasoline guzzling Commodore, Falcon or Territory, not to mention the many other SUVs they have. Check your elitist facts before you spew false information.
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GenWaylaid 1:17AM (11/15/2008)
Let's not beat up American-market cars for having a bigger carbon footprint until we divide those numbers by average miles driven per year. The average commute in the U.S. is quite a bit longer than the average commute in Europe or Japan, especially when one is looking only at car commuters.
I wouldn't be surprised if twice the CO2 per year in America works out to similar CO2 per mile. In that case, it's U.S. driving / living / city planning habits which are to blame, not U.S. cars.
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Phil 12:13PM (11/15/2008)
If you read the article, they normalised for mileage.
"the study found that the average year-to-date figures for Cars, Minivans and SUVs in the U.S. market stand at 22.6mpg (10.6 lt/100km). That's compared to 40.3mpg in Europe (5.83 lt/ 100km) and 40.6mpg (5.79 lt/100km) in Japan."
Since CO2 emissions are directly related to mpg (albeit with a 10% difference for diesel), the average US vehicle emits nearly twice the CO2 per mile as Europe and Japan.
What is considered normal in the US would be bought buy almost no one in Europe due to the high fuel consumption and CO2 produced. Just look at the same car sold in each market.
e.g. a Toyota RAV4 with a V6 and auto box is not available in Europe because it would sell virtually none.
The typical European Honda CRV is a diesel that achieves 35 US mpg, in the US it's a 2.4 auto gas that achieves 22 US mpg.
Compare GM's European offerings (Opel) with US models.
US cars are thirsty and polluting, Jeremy's entry and title are completely vaild and fair.
Nick 2:14PM (11/15/2008)
The figues are based on an equal number of miles driven. In other words a guy who drives 7000 miles a year in the U.S. still emits almost 2x the pollutants than a guy driving 7000 miles in Europe.
sydbot 1:21AM (11/15/2008)
Man, when can Autoblog/BlogSmith get a real feedback system!
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noz 2:39AM (11/15/2008)
SYDBOT:
You've not seen SMOG in LA? Now I know you're full of it..I live there...and let me tell you....LA is riddled with smog. It's disgusting. There's a stench this city has when I board off a plane after coming from somewhere else...it's truly disgusting.
Get your eyes checked.
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JamesWB 8:16AM (11/15/2008)
You know most of that smog is from the L A Harbor and all the heavy fuel oil powered ships, right?
max 2:27PM (11/15/2008)
You're absolutely right, this city is disgusting.
On the plane you can see the enormity of the smog cloud, when you've landed you can smell the stench for a few hours (before your brain puts it into the normal folder).
I used to live in West L.A. and every 12h my white patio table was covered in grey soot.
So L.A. not having smog...I don't know what he's been smoking.
Here' s a bonus video of the AMERICAN CLEAN AIR STANDARDS and how they are enforced:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34P8Ia_ot7Q&feature=related
Nicolas 4:02AM (11/15/2008)
Like some people said before me, there's a distincion to be made between CO2 and the other pollutants. CO2 isn't polluting the air, it's just warming it. It ain't less dangerous though, but it's quite different.
I live in Grenoble (French Alps main city) and there's a thick smog here to. The freeway around the city is always traffic jammed (is this correct?) at rush hours, with often one people per car...i'm sick of it.
I'm prefer downsized turbo charged gasoline engines than diesel, but there's few of them. (my favorite is the VolksWagen 1.4L TwinCharger : 160hp :) )
I'm also looking forward to the CNG engines, like the Opel Safira's
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Rene Ramirez 5:27AM (11/15/2008)
Yes, and America is causing all the worlds "unnatural" weather patterns, causing the oceans to rise and creating all the harmful emissions in the world because we like destroying the planet. My god, we Americans are simply just the big bad devils, we're nothing more then hate mongers and racist who drive SUV's and litter the ground we live on.
This preaching crap is starting to get old. I come to this network to check out technology updates and advancements in green technology (more so nano advancements). Instead I see more and more post like this reminding me how evil I am (being an American) and how much I am contributing to the end of the world. Everyone else is doing such a fantastic job, but nope, we Americans are just evil.
Christ..
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