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SMALL MOTORIC
In civilized countries, the rate of carbon dioxide emissions in the last three to four years has become one of the main characteristics of the car. The irony is that you can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from the pipe in only one way - to cut down the appetite of the engine. After all, the mass of CO2 spit out by a car and liters of fuel eaten are directly dependent on each other.
Therefore, detachments of motorists and engineers of automobile companies are at the forefront in the war against a dangerous enemy. The main means of fighting for cleanliness of the exhaust have been known since the mid 90s of the last century: variable valve timing, variable length intake ducts, lightweight parts and assemblies, not to mention various materials and technologies that reduce friction losses. In addition, according to engineers at Bosch, which manufactures fuel equipment for most European models, the interaction of a turbocharger (or mechanical supercharger) with direct injection reduces harmful emissions by up to 4%. And if you take this couple and remove the same power from a smaller volume (now the popular downsizing principle), then emissions can be reduced by a third.
“If the car cannot smoke, then it cannot drive,” the protagonist of the Czech cartoon “Mole in the City” joyfully stated, clogging the exhaust pipes with sausages. Indeed, the cheapest and most effective way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is to turn off the engine. Now for the driver it does electronics. For example, the “start-stop” system, which is equipped not only with expensive models, turns off the motor at traffic lights, reducing emissions by 4–8%. Various hybrid schemes make an even more tangible contribution - up to 25% in certain driving modes. Finally, the engine can be partially shut off. Turning off half of the cylinders until recently was the prerogative of multi-cylinder V-engines, but they are starting to install such a system on more compact engines. For example, the Volkswagen concern equipped it with the new turbocharged Quartet.
Getting rid of a single traffic light or a level crossing is not cheap, but it is a considerable contribution to the health of the planet
Getting rid of a single traffic light or a level crossing is not cheap, but it is a considerable contribution to the health of the planet. Getting rid of a single traffic light or a level crossing is not cheap, but it is a considerable contribution to the health of the planet.
However, you can save fuel and reduce emissions by improving other indicators. Calculations by designers show that reducing the drag coefficient by only 0.02 saves 0.4 l / 100 km at a speed of 130 km / h. For CO2, 3–6% is obtained. The same amount of tires with reduced rolling resistance will be written off. It is not without reason that all models from economical lines such as Blue Effects for Mercedes-Benz and Bloomous for Volkswagen are equipped with just such.
As a result, the new generation of machines is 13-30% more environmentally friendly and economical compared to its predecessors. At least that's what manufacturers say. Cars with liter engines have already crossed the psychological line of CO2 emissions of 100 g / km or come close to it. And this is without hybrid technologies that promise great benefits.
This coin has an unsightly side: the consumer will have to pay for all the achievements. Firstly, when buying, the manufacturer wants to return the amount spent on the development, implementation and production of all know-how. Secondly, often during operation. Alas, reliability is not the greatest strength of modern cars. But even a small repair sometimes hurts affordably. Do those who tirelessly tighten emission standards remember this?
NOT ONE GASOLINE
In terms of CO2 emissions, all types of automotive fuel are preferable to gasoline. Even more “dirty” (as many believe) diesel fuel: passenger turbodiesels, especially large ones, are more restrained by gasoline engines of comparable power by 5-15%. But this is not a reason to call for early dieselization. Otherwise, there will be problems with the sale of fuel, because in the processing of oil, an approximately equal amount of gasoline and diesel fuel is obtained. In addition, the soot emissions of diesel fuel are ahead of the rest.
Alternative fuels are less generous in CO2 emissions (g / km) than long-known gasoline. But everyone has both pros and cons. The German researchers took the atmospheric engine with an average consumption of 7 l / 100 km as the basis for the calculations:
Alternative fuels are less generous in CO2 emissions (g / km) than long-known gasoline. But everyone has both pros and cons. The German researchers took the atmospheric engine with an average consumption of 7 l / 100 km as the basis for the calculations
Another alternative is biofuels. Think about it: a biomethane engine emits about 30 times less CO2 than gasoline (ZR, 2012, No. 4). A significant advantage! However, undeveloped infrastructure is holding back mass application, and nobody is in a hurry to invest in its development. In addition, the production of biodiesel is limited to sown areas on which raw materials are grown.
Finally, the most fashionable area is the use of electricity. The most funds are sent here, but is it worth it? The generation of electrical energy endows nature with carbon dioxide two to three times more generous than all vehicles combined! Even a small “Smart” with an electric motor, when calculating the harm from the electricity it consumes, emits 71 g / km of CO2. A lot, considering the size of the car! So campaigning for a massive and rapid transition to electric traction is probably too early. At least until most of the energy will be generated by renewable sources like windmills or solar panels.
Approximate shares of CO2 emissions attributable to various sources. They depend on the level of development of a particular country:
Approximate shares of CO2 emissions attributable to various sources. They depend on the level of development of a particular country
SUPPORTED BY THE SENIORS
In Europe, cars are allowed to emit 130 g / km CO2 (on average for each manufacturer). The norm is valid until 2015, and by 2020 the threshold will be reduced to 95 g / km. However, the role of the state is not limited to the introduction of stricter environmental standards. It should encourage citizens to buy new cars that spew significantly less harmful gases. For example, for 15 years, the BMW 7 Series with the same engine power began to chad a third more modestly. Along with the whip, which are high taxes on old cars, there is a carrot: a recycling program supported by the government.
Another direction of the state’s activity, in addition to much greater financial costs, requires the involvement of competent specialists - this is the planning of the road network. A car at cruising speed emits much less CO2 than it pushes in multi-kilometer traffic jams. Ideally, you need to lay new routes in the early stages of development, but sometimes you have to enter the road into the existing infrastructure. And no matter how wild it sounds, sometimes the best way out for the environment can be deforestation under a new highway.
