Motors pile on the pounds

Your average motor now weighs more than 45% than it used to 20 years ago. This is an amazing fact bearing in mind society's fascination with all things green and the government's promise to reduce exhaust emissions. This research shows that emissions would be cut by 25% if the vehicles weighed the same as they did 20 years ago; engines are certainly cleaner and more efficient but this is offset by the bigger cars.

To calculate the effect of weight on emissions, you need to compare the CO2 figures of the various models with the same size engine. The comparison shows that if a Peugeot 207HDiS cut its weight by 10% then emissions would drop by 8%. This would benefit motorists all round as they would save on fuel as emissions are linked to mpg.

Why do cars weigh so much more? The main reason is safety, a spokesman said: 'adding safety features increases weight and a heavier vehicle is less efficient and more polluting.' In the eighties most cars didn't even have rear seat belts, now this is the law and most cars also have several airbags too, this is just one example of the increased safety features. There is some good news, whilst pollution may have increased, road deaths have fallen by 41% since the late eighties. 

 

Date - 04/12/2006