Comments on: Subaru Begs Me To Ask The Question: Higher MPG Or Less Emissions?

By: David

David — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:36:10 +0000

That may still be the case, I don’t know AnnMarie, but there are 11 states that have those rules as well now: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, and there are several more working on adopting them: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, and Utah. Soon enough, I imagine most states will have PZEV or equivalent available.

By: AnnMarie

AnnMarie — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:46:14 +0000

Perhaps it has changed since we last bought a car (5 years ago), but at that time, I was told I could NOT buy a car with California emissions standards unless I lived in California. I wanted to, but the car dealer said it wasn’t possible. I don’t know–and don’t recall how much I asked about it–the extent to which this was law, difficult for the dealer, or what. But I did ask about (and was prepared to pay more for it) and couldn’t do it.

By: David

David — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:31:57 +0000

Look forward to whatever you find out Jaimie, but I have to think that if they are capturing emissions and then somehow dealing with it in the end, that is better than just emitting it all into the air over the life of the car. That being said, I have no idea what they are doing and will look into it as well…

By: Jaimie

Jaimie — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:17:02 +0000

Well, I think I need more information to decide. So how does your Subaru reduce emissions by 90%? Does it have a second catalytic converter? Whatever method it uses, does it require more frequent exhaust system maintenance such as replacing the catalytic converter? It seems like we have to take this into account in order to determine the answer to your question. If the reduction in emissions is truly 90% over the non-PZEV version of your car, it seems that the PZEV version must generate ten times as much solid waste in the form of whatever is capturing the pollutants to keep them from becoming emissions (or perhaps the same number of pieces of waste, but ten times more potent). I’d be interested to learn more about how the PZEV system works. It’s hard for me to believe that capturing the emissions in a catalytic converter is any better at all that letting them spew into the atmosphere. It still generates the same amount of pollution it’s just that it is all concentrated in one place. It might make for easier disposal, but do we have systems in place for handling the solid waste in the form of used up catalytic converters or do they simply sit in landfills and then does that same CO2 that would have gone into the atmosphere then contaminate our water and ultimately end up in the ocean and contribute to ocean acidification? I really don’t know, but I’m glad for the post as now I will look into it.