Automobiles

TEN BILLION METRIC tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are spewed into the atmosphere each year by the fossil fuel-hungry transportation sector. Over the typical 124,000-mile lifespan of an automobile, the Toyota Prius will emit 32 tons of carbon dioxide from its tailpipe versus a Ford Excursion spewing 134 tons.

The type of transportation employed has a major impact on the amount of carbon dioxide and pollutants produced. People can choose their mode of transportation and whether or not to be a part of a growing community that wants to reduce the effects of global warming by cutting back on tailpipe emissions. The internal combustion engine (ICE) is a poor choice of power source. It dissipates 80 percent of its energy as heat, even ...