Reduction of Life Cycle CO2 Emissions -The Example of Honda Insight

In order to reduce CO₂ emissions from automobiles, a highly fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle, the “Insight”, has been developed at Honda. Life cycle CO₂ emissions are compared for the aluminum-bodied Insight, a simulated steel-bodied Insight, and a conventional gasoline vehicle. Life cycle CO₂ emission is still dominated by the in-use fuel consumption. However, the contribution of CO₂ emission from material use and processing could increase when the vehicle fuel consumption is greatly reduced. The use of recycled aluminum reduces CO₂ emission from the aluminum-bodied Insight.