car emissions Page 32

“Car emissions” is the polite way of saying your tailpipe is puffing out CO2, NOx, hydrocarbons and particulates—none of which make the planet or your lungs cheer.

In broad strokes, a small petrol car typically does about 120–160 g/km CO2, big SUVs can be around 180–250 g/km, while EVs are 0 g/km at the tailpipe (your electricity mix still matters).

Want to cut it down? Keep tyres properly inflated, service it on time, drive smoothly, and consider hybrids or EVs if most of your life is stop‑start traffic.

Australia’s lab test figures are a guide, not gospel—your right foot can nuke them faster than a headwind on the Hume.

Biggest wins: pick the right size car, avoid idling, combine trips, and resist roof racks when you’re not using them—they’re like parachutes for fuel economy.