Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint measures a vehicle’s impact on climate change in tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂)
emitted annually. The following three tables show the carbon footprint for various vehicle classes.
The sales-weighted average fuel economy rating for each vehicle class, based on 45% highway and
55% city driving, is used to determine the average annual carbon footprint for vehicles in the class.
An estimate of 15,000 annual miles is used for each vehicle class and for each year in the series. The
equation to calculate carbon footprint uses results of the GREET model version 1.8.

where:

CO₂ = (Tailpipe CO₂ = Upstream Greenhouse Gases) in grams per million Btu

LHV = Lower (or net) Heating Value in million Btu per gallon

CH₄ = Tailpipe CO₂ equivalent methane in grams per mile

N₂O = Tailpipe CO₂ equivalent nitrous oxide in grams per mile

 

Source: DOE TRANSPORTATION ENERGY DATA BOOK: EDITION 27–2008

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