CO2 and old cars

[Snagglefoot]

I think anyone driving a 14 year old vehicle should rest assured they are doing the environment a favour. They have probably caused one less vehicle to be produced. Also, planting trees for offsets is voodoo CO2 accounting IMHO.

Certainly any early 60’s cars with wide open crankcase vents pollute, but hey, how may cars of that vintage are daily drivers. I was chatting with a friend discussing 50 year old cars. Most of them, when restored properly, are way too valuable to be insured and driven daily.

 

[Andrew1972]

I have only understood the sale of brand NEW ICE cars will be banned by certain date in certain state/countries. Not the existing ones that are running about…….Did I missed something?

Also I am guessing this is a goal not an absolute that can change over time.

 

[The_Eric]

This is one of the reasons I buy, fix and drive old, used cars. Less impact on the environment - if I don't create the demand for a new car, all the industries involved in the production of raw materials and assembly don't need to do their dirty work.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Well this makes sense. Classic cars just vent tonnes of VOC's from their fuel systems. So which is worse? Unburnt fuel causing SMOG or Co2?

I'm talking carbs rather than PFI.

 

[wpod]

Often, the only difference between medicine & poison is dosage.

Over the Earths history higher Co2 levels have promoted more plant growth and plants are food.

 

[92saturnsl2]

Over the Earths history higher Co2 levels have promoted more plant growth and plants are food.

Throughout Earth's history, it hasn't had 8 billion people to support. And the leveling of said plant growth to make way for wood production, mining, cattle farming, palm oil plantations, etc. etc.

 

[nthach]

Well this makes sense. Classic cars just vent tonnes of VOC's from their fuel systems. So which is worse? Unburnt fuel causing SMOG or Co2?

I'm talking carbs rather than PFI.

Back in the old days, no such thing as PCV, EGR or EVAP. Or catalytic converters. Cars have come a long way since the Malaise Era, pollution in the most crowded areas of the US has improved but isn’t “ideal”. I understand the EV push and “consolidating” emissions to bigger sources - the current tactic of downsizing, turbos, reformulated fuels(and low-VOC paint, etc) is grasping at straws and chasing diminishing returns.

PM/HC/NOx pollution is more harmful in the short run than CO2 in the long run. Also, with increased population comes with increased consumption and resource use.

 

[KrisZ]

The utopia has you riding a bicycle or ride share/rent a vehicle. That's what "you will own nothing and be happy" means. Saving the environment is juts a well thought out excuse so people will buy into it. And to add insult to injury, they are using CO2 for it. It doesn't get more comical than this.

 

[Cujet]

As always, a catalytic converter's job is to make CO2 from unburned hydrocarbons and CO. Modern cars and trucks make more CO2 any way you slice it.