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MAIN: SCIENCE REPORTSBODY AND BRAINEARTH AND ENVIRONMENTSPACETECHNOLOGYVIDEOARCHIVEFOR TEACHERS
The Global Warming DebateEarth and Environment
BACKGROUND REPORT ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Fuel Economy and Carbon Emissions: How Does Your Vehicle Measure Up? Posted: August 7, 2006
Carmakers have boasted improved fuel economy and decreased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with new gas-electric hybrids, diesel-powered cars and trucks, and "flex-fuel" vehicles.

But how do these alternatively fueled vehicles affect overall carbon emissions and your wallet? Input the gas price in your area, and see how much your car costs per year to fuel and how much CO2 it produces.

 More information on fuel standards
 FUEL TYPE                FUEL PRICE
 Diesel
 Gasoline
 E85
 Premium Gasoline
VEHICLES/SPECS COST PER YEAR CO2 (total) CO2 (tailpipe)
    TWO SEATER
Bugatti 2006 Veyron
Bugatti 2006 Veyron
Premium Gas 8/16
City: 8 Highway: 15

   3940.00

   16700

   12800
Honda 2006 Insight
Honda 2006 Insight
Gas-Electric 1.0/3
City: 57 Highway: 56

   650.00

   3000

   2300
    MINICOMPACT
Volkwagon 2006 New Beetle
Volkwagon 2006 New Beetle
Gas 2.5/5
City: 23 Highway: 32

   1390.00

   6400

   4900
Volkwagon 2006 New Beetle
Volkwagon 2006 New Beetle
Diesel 1.9/4
City: 35 Highway: 42

   900.00

   4400

   4100
    SUBCOMPACT
Honda 2006 Civic
Honda 2006 Civic
Gas 1.8/4
City: 30 Highway: 40

   1080.00

   5000

   3800
Honda 2006 Civic Hybrid
Honda 2006 Civic Hybrid
Gas-Electric 1.3/4
City: 49 Highway: 51

   730.00

   3400

   2600
    COMPACT
Volkwagon 2006 Golf
Volkwagon 2006 Golf
Gas 2.0/4
City: 24 Highway: 31

   1370.00

   6300

   4900
Volkwagon 2006 Golf
Volkwagon 2006 Golf
Diesel 1.9/4
City: 37 Highway: 44

   850.00

   4100

   3800
    SPORTS
Ford 2007 Mustang
Ford 2007 Mustang
Premium Gas 4.6/7
City: 15 Highway: 21

   2320.00

   9800

   7500
    MIDSIZE
Dodge 2006 Stratus 4-door FFV
Dodge 2006 Stratus 4-door FFV
Gas 2.7/5
City: 21 Highway: 28

   1550.00

   7100

   5500
Dodge 2006 Stratus 4-door FFV
Dodge 2006 Stratus 4-door FFV
E85 (corn) 2.7/5
City: 15 Highway: 20

   1610.00

   6800

   5500
Dodge 2006 Stratus 4-door FFV
Dodge 2006 Stratus 4-door FFV
E85 (cellulosic) 2.7/5
City: 15 Highway: 20

   1610.00

   1900

   5500
Honda 2006 Accord
Honda 2006 Accord
Gas 3.0/6
City: 20 Highway: 29

   1570.00

   7300

   5600
Honda 2006 Accord Hybrid
Honda 2006 Accord Hybrid
Gas-Electric 3.0/6
City: 25 Highway: 34

   1290.00

   5900

   4600
Toyota 2006 Prius
Toyota 2006 Prius
Gas-Electric 1.5/4
City: 60 Highway: 51

   660.00

   3000

   2300
    LARGE CARS
Bentley 2006 Arnage LWB
Bentley 2006 Arnage LWB
Premium Gas 6.8/8
City: 10 Highway: 14

   3480.00

   14700

   11300
    SUV
Ford 2007 Escape 4WD
Ford 2007 Escape 4WD
Gas 2.3/4
City: 22 Highway: 27

   1530.00

   7000

   5400
Ford 2007 Escape Hybrid 4WD
Ford 2007 Escape Hybrid 4WD
Gas-Electric 2.3/4
City: 32 Highway: 29

   1200.00

   5500

   4200
Hummer 2007 H3 4WD
Hummer 2007 H3 4WD
Gas 3.7/5
City: 15 Highway: 19

   2210.00

   10200

   7800
Jeep 2007 Liberty/Cherokee 4WD
Jeep 2007 Liberty/Cherokee 4WD
Gas 3.7/6
City: 17 Highway: 22

   1930.00

   8900

   6900
Jeep 2007 Liberty/Cherokee 4WD
Jeep 2007 Liberty/Cherokee 4WD
Diesel 2.8/4
City: 22 Highway: 26

   1440.00

   7000

   6500
    STANDARD PICKUP TRUCK
Chevrolet 2007 C1500 Sierra Classic 2WD FFV
Chevrolet 2007 C1500 Sierra Classic 2WD FFV
Gas 5.3/8
City: 16 Highway: 21

   2040.00

   9400

   7200
Chevrolet 2007 C1500 Sierra Classic Hybrid 2WD
Chevrolet 2007 C1500 Sierra Classic Hybrid 2WD
Gas-Electric 5.3/8
City: 18 Highway: 21

   1900.00

   8800

   6700
Chevrolet 2007 C1500 Sierra Classic 2WD FFV
Chevrolet 2007 C1500 Sierra Classic 2WD FFV
E85 (corn) 5.3/8
City: 12 Highway: 16

   2010.00

   8500

   6900
Chevrolet 2007 C1500 Sierra Classic 2WD FFV
Chevrolet 2007 C1500 Sierra Classic 2WD FFV
E85 (cellulosic) 5.3/8
City: 12 Highway: 16

   2010.00

   2400

   6900
Dodge 2006 Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD
Dodge 2006 Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD
Gas 4.7/8
City: 14 Highway: 19

   2300.00

   10600

   8200
Dodge 2006 Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD
Dodge 2006 Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD
Premium Gas 8.3/10
City: 9 Highway: 12

   3930.00

   16600

   12800
Dodge 2006 Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD FFV
Dodge 2006 Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD FFV
E85 (corn) 4.7/8
City: 9 Highway: 11

   2770.00

   11700

   9600
Dodge 2006 Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD FFV
Dodge 2006 Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD FFV
E85 (cellulosic) 4.7/8
City: 9 Highway: 11

   2770.00

   3300

   9600
 
Sources: Environmental Protection Agency, Argonne National Laboratory, General Motors Corp., Air Improvement Resource Inc.

  Main: The Global Warming Debate
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Key Terms
Cost per year: The cost to fuel your car if you drive 15,000 miles per year

Tailpipe CO2: The level of carbon dioxide that comes out of your vehicle's tailpipe

Overall CO2: This number takes into account the carbon dioxide emitted from recovering and processing the fuel.

Ethanol from plant cellulose: The overall carbon emissions from cellulosic ethanol are less than tailpipe emissions because the carbon in the fuel is taken from the atmosphere.

Ethanol from corn: This fuel additive is mostly a biofuel; however, its processing produces enough carbon to make its overall carbon output comparable to conventional gas.

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