6. Environmental and Health Benefits of AFVs

Although California has made great strides toward cleaner air during the last 30 years, the state still has a long way to go to meet federal and state clean air standards. In fact:

• More than 95 percent of Californians live in areas that fail to meet federal or state air quality standards.
• Roughly 50 percent of smog-forming pollutants still come from gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.
• Despite the improvement in vehicle emissions, the effects of population growth and increased driving could soon outpace the efforts to reduce emissions unless even cleaner vehicles are introduced.

    (Source: California Air Resources Board press release 1-31-02)

Scientists' suspicions that the chemicals in smog cause severe health effects are being proven by several extensive research studies. Among the findings:

• Smog triggers asthma attacks in those who have the disease.
• Smog causes more people to develop asthma.
• Smog reduces lung capacity in children making them more vulnerable to respiratory ailments.
• Particulates (very small particles) in smog can get deeply embedded in the lungs and cause or exacerbate asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, heart problems and even cancer.

    (Source: California Air Resources Board press release 6-29-01)

Natural gas vehicles and electric vehicles both reduce emissions to almost zero.

Natural Gas Vehicles

Tailpipe emissions, also called exhaust emissions, from a typical NGV are much lower than those from gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. Typical NGVs can reduce exhaust emissions of:

• Carbon monoxide (CO) by up to 95 percent
• Non-methane organic gas (NMOG) by up to 85 percent
• Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by up to 80 percent
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) by nearly 20 percent (compared to gasoline)
• Particulates (PM) by over 90 percent (compared to diesel)

The above statistics are just for an average NGV. Advanced NGV technologies, such as the system used in the CNG-fueled Honda Civic GX, like those used in the City of Burbank&rsquo s fleet, provide even better emission reductions. For example, the Civic GX has emissions well below the stringent ultra low-emission vehicle (ULEV) standard and is certified as an inherently low-emission vehicle (ILEV) by federal standards. The actual emissions are 1/10 of the ULEV standard, making it a " nearly zero" emission vehicle, and its ILEV status allows single occupant vehicles to operate in carpool lanes, as with EVs.

In addition to the tailpipe emission reduction discussed above, NGVs produce little or no evaporative emissions during fueling and use. This is compared to gasoline vehicles, where evaporative and fueling emissions account for at least 50 percent of a vehicle's total hydrocarbon emissions.

Finally, natural gas is not corrosive or toxic, and will not contaminate groundwater.

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are more than 90 percent cleaner than the cleanest internal combustion engine (ICE) car on the road today. Since there is no tailpipe in an EV, there are no tailpipe emissions from the vehicle--ever. The vehicles are as nonpolluting on the last day as on the first. That means no smog checks or smog-control system repairs. Since EVs do not fuel at a pump, they have no evaporative emissions or toxics such as benzene and formaldehyde. And since there is an electric motor instead of an engine, there are also no oil changes and no tune-ups. In fact, maintenance on an EV is expected to cost 35 to 80 percent less than maintenance on a gasoline car. A very small amount of emissions is produced by the power plants that generate the electricity to charge the EV batteries. However, California's electric powerplants are among the cleanest in the nation and meet very stringent emissions standards.

Because, electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than their gasoline engine counterparts, there are fewer parts to maintain. There are no tune-ups, no oil changes, no transmission to service. And no trips to the gas station!