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Gasoline vehicles are much cleaner than they were years ago, but burning gasoline or diesel in a vehicle engine produces byproducts (emissions) that contribute to dirty air. Air pollution is directly linked with heath problems, including strokes, respiratory illnesses and premature death. South Coast Air Quality Management District defines pollutants as:
- Smog -- air pollution that is formed when gases from many sources are released into the air and chemically react with each other in sunlight.
- Ground-level ozone -- a colorless pollutant formed by a chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the presence of sunlight. Most VOCs and NOx come from cars, trucks, buses, plus agricultural and construction equipment. In contrast, stratospheric ozone, better known as the ozone layer, occurs naturally and shields the earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
- Particulate matter -- a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Fine particles can come from burning fuel in a combustion engine. Heavy-duty diesel engines are the leading contributor to particulate matter.
- Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide -- colorless, odorless gas by-products of combustion produced primarily by motor vehicles. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases.
A zero emissions vehicle, like a fuel cell vehicle, emit none of these pollutants from the tailpipe. Zero emission vehicles, particularly buses, can have an immediate impact on the environment and improve pollution-related health issues.
Other resources:
South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Dirty Air brochure (PDF)
California Air Resources Board Guide to Clean Cars
US EPA Green Vehicle Guide |
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