Our writer believes so, but not our technical guru
Our writer says “Yes”
CO2 emission figures save the planet, but eco-driving
methods do not, because very few Singaporean drivers will ever put them into
practice. Their bad driving habits are already too deeply ingrained. For
instance, taxi drivers tend to swerve and come to a screeching halt to pick up
passengers by the side of the road, and the majority of bus drivers brake so
abruptly, it’s a miracle commuters aren’t hurled forwards more often. You
simply cannot convince motorists to drive at a constant, moderate speed,
because they probably prefer to accelerate suddenly to prevent other cars from
filtering into their lane.
CO2 emission
figures save the planet, but eco-driving methods do not, because very few
Singaporean drivers will ever put them into practice.
Since it’s well-nigh impossible to change how people drive,
convincing them to drive cleaner and more efficient cars is the only practical
way to save our planet. With Singapore’s CEVS (Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle
Scheme) already in place, local buyers will consider how efficient a car is
before signing on the dotted line, if only because they qualify for an ARF
(additional registration fee) rebate ranging from $5k to $20k if the CO2 figure
is 160g per km or lower.
This rebate is attractive because the savings are upfront.
Any money saved through an eco-conscious driving style, on the other hand, can
only be quantified if the driver charts his mileage and fuel costs
meticulously. Very few motorists will ever bother to log this data, analyze it,
and keep track of how much petrol they’re saving.
At the end of the day, driving an efficient car with
comparatively low CO2 emissions, even in an inefficient manner, is better for
the environment than driving a car in a more fuel-efficient way.”
Our technical guru says “No”
Let me get straight to the point: CO2 figures are
meaningless. They do nothing for the environment compared to eco-driving
techniques.
Admittedly, the motorcar manufacturers are neither
exaggerating nor misrepresenting their cars’ eco-performance. The problem here
is the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), which lays the ground rules on the
motoring conditions and driving attributes that automakers must follow to
certify their emission and consumption data. The information is then put on a
decal and stuck on the windscreen of every car, in every showroom. While the
numbers help consumers to make useful comparisons between different models, the
standardized NEDC procedures are almost impossible to duplicate in the real
world. In other words, the sometimes impressively low “grams per kilometer”
figure on the sticker isn’t the secret to saving the planet.
The truth is, the way we drive can make a huge difference to
how much fuel we burn and the amount of noxious gases our vehicles emit through
their tailpipes. Even carmakers realize this, which is why they have quietly
programmed their engine management software to moderate accelerator inputs,
gear-changes and power delivery wherever possible.
The truth is, the
way we drive can make a huge difference to how much fuel we burn and the amount
of noxious gases our vehicles emit through their tailpipes.
Whatever the make or model of the car, different driving
styles can produce drastically different consumption figures, and we all know
that carbon dioxide (i.e. CO2) is produced during the combustion of fuel. Being
gentle on the throttle pedal, anticipating traffic ahead and coasting
accordingly, turning-off the engine while waiting and maintaining the right tire
pressure are some simple, but highly effective ways to minimize the harmful
exhaust fumes emitted over every kilometer.
Carbon blasting:
Emission tests, performed under controlled conditions, produce results
impossible to replicate in the real world
It takes a bit of effort to get into the habit of efficient
driving, but ultimately, this will do far more for Mother Nature than the cold
calculation and unthinking quotation of CO2 emission figures.”
