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| 09/12/2009 |
| Flex Fuel Vehicles have avoided the issue of 75 million tonnes of CO2 |
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| Source:
Globo Rural |
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From April 2003 to October 2009, the use of ethanol by the flex vehicles in Brazil have prevented the emission of more than 75 million tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The mark of 75.918 million tons of avoided CO2 was measured by the Carbonometer, a tool developed by Unica - União da Indústria de Cana-de-Açúcar - estimating the amount of pollutant that is no longer issued due to alcohol consumption by vehicles.
A review of the methodology of calculation of the Carbonometer held in October, revealed that the final calculation was under-estimated, which had produced results lower than the real benefits in the reduction of CO2 in hybrid cars. "Basically an adjustment was made on the curve demonstrating the scrap fleet in service, which projected an over extraction of vehicles in use, affecting the results", explains the emissions technology consultant of Unica, Alfred Szwarc.
To achieve the same total amount of CO2 that was previously issued by the second flex Carbonometer, it would be necessary to plant and maintain over 20 years more than 200 million native trees.
The Carbonometer considers both the ethanol consumed directly by flex-fuel vehicles, as the 25% ethanol in petrol in the case of use of this fuel. The calculation does not include benefits provided by the vehicles with alcohol only still in service or reduction in emissions provided by 25% ethanol added to gasoline throughout the country, used by gasoline vehicles.
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