Choose an Efficient Vehicle

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How to take action

• Right size – drive only as much car as you really need on a daily basis. The size and weight of a car contribute significantly to its ongoing gasoline use – and greenhouse gas emissions. Avoid transporting unnecessary vehicle weight, and save money.
• You may need an SUV for an annual camping trip, or a pickup a few times a year for large jobs, but avoid the trap of buying a large vehicle for daily use when you really only need it once in a while. Rent, borrow from friends or join a car-share for those special needs – and keep your fuel consumption down for routine vehicle use.
• Downsize. If your kids have moved out, your job no longer requires a vehicle, or you are realizing how much a large car costs – trade for a smaller vehicle.
• Calculate lifetime costs. The sticker price of a car is only part of what you'll pay over its lifetime – remember to factor in how much you'll pay in monthly fuel bills and maintenance. It may be worth spending more up front for more efficiency and durability over the long term.
• Look for the EnerGuide label to compare fuel efficiency of different vehicles. The EnerGuide label gives you city and highway fuel consumption ratings, and an estimated annual fuel cost for the vehicle. If a new vehicle has no label, ask the dealer to see it, look up the vehicle in the Fuel Consumption Guide, or use an on-line tool to compare models.
• Take your junker off the road. On average, older cars emit 19 times as much pollution as cars newer than 2004. In B.C., retiring your old vehicle could mean you'll qualify for an incentive.
• Consider an alternative-fuel vehicle. Electric and hybrid cars, or those that run on biodiesel or other fuels may be an option depending on your driving needs. While some technologies are still relatively new and may be more expensive, their efficiency, low emissions and low noise (in the case of electric and hybrid vehicles) offer advantages worth considering.
• Drive a low emission vehicle. From low (LEV) to ultra-low (ULEV) to super-low (SULEV), many vehicles are now rated in terms of their emissions. Before buying, compare the ratings to determine your most environmentally-friendly choice.
• Drive a manual transmission vehicle. As a general rule, manual transmissions are more efficient than automatic. If you do drive an automatic, choose one with more gears in total.
• Consider vehicle options carefully. Many options – such as power windows, mirrors, and seats – add weight and drag to a vehicle, as well as drawing battery power, which increases fuel consumption.
• Consider something other than a car. Motorcycles and scooters use far less gas than cars, and produce fewer emissions. Or switch to a bike.

Why it makes a difference

• Emissions from transportation made up 37% of B.C.'s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2005 – up 42% from 1990. Of those, 60% came from road vehicles, predominantly light passenger vehicles (cars, minivans, etc.).
• There are approximately 17 million light-duty trucks (SUVs, passenger vans and pickups) on the road in Canada. They are responsible for about 15% of Canada's total carbon dioxide emissions. A typical SUV uses almost twice the fuel and releases nearly twice the emissions as a car that seats the same number of people.
• Reducing vehicle emissions will make a significant contribution to combating climate change. Driving less overall is one way to reduce. Ensuring that every kilometre you do drive has the lowest possible emissions is another – accomplish this by driving an efficient vehicle.

For more information

• Calculate the true cost of operating a car.
• Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association.
• The Green Motorist – a guide to eco-friendly vehicles.