Purchase Tips for a Greener Vehicle

When purchasing a new vehicle it is important to consider the impact it will have on the environment. Motor vehicles emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, which all contribute to climate change, so it is important to choose the right vehicle for you, your needs and the environment. Here are some tips to remember:

• Practical requirements
• Different powerplant technologies
• Research the car's environmental impact
• Australian made versus imported
• Fuel-efficiency
• Emissions produced in manufacture and transportation
• Fuel-type
• Emissions generated over distance

Choose a vehicle that matches your practical requirements

Generally, the larger the vehicle the greater the running costs and the more CO₂ its will produce to get you around. Before purchase a new vehicle, consider the practical requirements you need from a vehicle and purchase a vehicle that will have the minimum impact on the environment.

Consider new powerplant technologies

There are many vehicles on the market and you should explore all options that are available to you including new technologies that may reduce your impact on the environment instead compare the normal equivalent vehicle type. Increasing there are more hybrid and diesel vehicles available on the market, which can reduce the amount of CO₂ in the environment.

Research the impact a new car has on the environment

When considering the environmental impact a new vehicle will have on the environment, the Federal Government provides a Green Vehicle Guide that allows consumers to evaluate the impact on the environment by rating the greenhouse and air pollution emissions it emits. The online resource can be found at www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au.

Domestically manufactured vehicles produce less CO₂ in transport

To reduce your new vehicle’s impact on the environment, research whether during construction recycled materials were used, how far the vehicle has been transported to the caryard. By purchasing vehicles that are domestically produced and that use recycled materials, you can minimise the amount of CO₂ produced in the manufacturer and transportation of a new vehicle.

More fuel-efficient vehicles that emit less CO₂

It is important to consider the fuel-efficiency of a new vehicle, which can save you around $10,000 in running costs and upto 20 tonnes of CO₂ over the life of your vehicle. It is worth considering a new diesel vehicle with a particulate filter, as this type of vehicle is more economical and environmentally friendlier than its petrol equivalent.

CO₂ Emissions from a Petrol Vehicle

( ¹ Australian Greenhouse Office. Based on an average 15,000km travelled annually)

Reduce the amount of CO₂ produced by your car in manufacture and transportation

Another way to reduce the impact your new car has on the environment is to find a caryard that offers to offset the CO₂ your vehicle would produce within the first year or the amount of CO₂ produced to manufacture and transport the vehicle to their caryard.

Choose a fuel-type that minimises the amount CO₂ emitted

Different fuels emit different levels of CO₂ emissions and provide differing energy efficiencies. The table below shows the amount of CO₂ emitted by a car’s exhaust per litre of a particular fuel. This is a guide and may vary by the type and size of a vehicles.

New Diesel engines will produce less CO₂ over the same distance 

Despite LPG producing the lowest emissions per litre, more fuel is consumed to travel the same distance. Diesel may produce the most CO₂ emissions, but when a particulate filter is used combined with its higher fuel-efficiency than petrol engines, less emissions are produced over the same distance.

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