Environmental Impact of Cash for Clunkers Car Scheme

US President Barack Obama’s ‘Cash for Clunkers’ scheme has now been in operation for a fortnight, and already data has been produced on the volumes and types of vehicles US residents have been trading in for newer, more fuel efficient models. 

More than 80 per cent of the 316,000 cars traded in so far have been either pick-up trucks or sport utility vehicles (SUVs) – an indication of a wide movement away from these types of transports and a trend that will have a limited impact on the environment.

As of August 12th 2009, the top ten vehicles being submitted were as follows:

• The Ford Explorer 4WD
• The Ford F150 Pickup 2WD
• The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD
• The Jeep Cherokee 4WD
• The Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD
• The Ford Explorer 2WD
• The Chevrolet Blazer 4WD
• The Ford F150 Pickup 4WD
• The Chevrolet C1500 Pickup 2WD
• The Ford Windstar FWD Van

The top ten new vehicle purchases, meanwhile, were:

• The Toyota Corolla
• The Ford Focus FWD
• The Honda Civic
• The Toyota Prius
• The Toyota Camry
• The Hyundai Elantra
• The Ford Escape FWD SUV
• The Dodge Caliber
• The Honda Fit
• The Chevrolet Cobalt

Cash for Clunkers

While Cash for Clunkers is not an overtly environmental policy (its main thrust is concerned with rejuvenating the US auto industry), there is an environmental theme running through it, with high-emission vehicles making way for cleaner, greener models.  As far as environmental campaigners are concerned, however, its not immediately apparent that the scheme will impact heavily on US transport emissions.

“We think there will be some emissions reduction but it will just be a very small percentage of emissions from transportation”, the WRI’s (World Resources Institute’s) Chris Ganson stated, adding: “It's still just a drop in the bucket.”

US Auto Emissions

The WRI itself recently studied the impact of Cash for Clunkers on US auto emissions, deducing that, over the course of a decade, only two days worth at best would be offset. 

Drivers participating in Cash for Clunkers are paid a maximum of $4,500 for their unwanted vehicles, and are compelled, in return, to purchase new ones capable of achieving a minimum of four more miles per gallon.