My Chevy 3500 Silverado Has, At 250,000 Miles, Created 159 Metric Tons of CO2, and These Visual Comparisons Will Help You Concretely Grasp The Scale

This morning, while browsing an Electric Vehicles Facebook page, I stumbled upon an insightful comment by Clay Stewart. It addressed the environmental impact of his Chevy 3500 Silverado, sparking a broader discussion about sustainability and the future of the automotive industry. Just like Kodak and Nokia missed their moments to innovate, could Toyota and other legacy car companies be heading down a similar path? Discover why some believe Toyota is at a crossroads in the EV revolution and what it must do to stay in the game.

Anyway, Clay's words caught my attention because they didn’t just highlight the issue—they made it real with comparisons anyone can visualize. Here’s what Clay shared:

"My Chevy 3500 Silverado has, at 250,000 miles, created 159 metric tons of CO2—one truck. It's tough to grasp the scale of 159 metric tons of CO2 truly, but here are a few visual comparisons to try and make it more concrete:

1. Imagine a solid block of dry ice. Dry ice is solid CO2. 159 metric tons of it would be a cube roughly 27 meters (89 feet) on each side. That's about the height of a 9-story building!
2. Picture a fleet of cars. An average car emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year. One hundred fifty-nine metric tons is equivalent to the annual emissions of 35 vehicles.
3. Think about trees. A mature tree absorbs about 22 kilograms of CO2 per year. To offset 159 metric tons, you'd need a forest of roughly 7,227 mature trees absorbing CO2 for a year.
4. Visualize it as a volume. CO2 is a gas, so imagine a giant balloon. At standard temperature and pressure, 159 metric tons of CO2 would fill a sphere with a diameter of roughly 100 meters (328 feet). That's wider than a football field!"

These comparisons hit hard. They take the abstract—metric tons of CO2—and turn it into tangible, graspable imagery. A 9-story block of dry ice? A balloon bigger than a football field? Suddenly, the numbers don’t just sit on a spreadsheet; they paint a picture of a very real, very urgent problem.

The Context of Heavy Trucks and Cars

It’s worth noting that the Chevy Silverado 3500 is a heavy-duty truck, often bought for towing, hauling, or commercial use. With its size and power, its MPG is bound to be lower than that of a typical sedan. But even average gasoline cars don’t escape scrutiny. A car achieving 30 MPG would emit about 98,200 pounds of CO2 (793,716 cubic feet of gas) after 150,000 miles. While the Silverado’s numbers may seem shocking, they’re reflective of a broader issue: the massive carbon footprint of internal combustion engines (ICEs).

The automotive industry is at a crossroads. As Clay’s comment highlights the scale of one truck’s emissions, it also underscores the need for systemic change. Whether it's Tesla, BYD, or innovative startups, electric vehicles (EVs) are paving the way forward, offering zero tailpipe emissions and a cleaner alternative to traditional ICE vehicles.

The environmental impact of heavy-duty vehicles is under growing scrutiny, with industry leaders like Ford advocating for stricter EPA standards to drive change. Ford and some other industry leaders are now pushing for cleaner solutions in this critical area.

Note that there are lots of complexities in meeting government mandates for emissions and fuel economy while producing vehicles like the Chevy Silverado 3500. 

Marcus Klem, a reader with firsthand experience, put it best: 'They are all having the same types of issues because they all have to have similar overly complicated systems to meet government mandates on fuel mileage and emissions.' His perspective sheds light on why modern trucks face unique challenges.

Visualizing Sustainability

Clay’s comparisons resonate deeply because they not only quantify the problem but connect it to solutions. Consider this:

• Planting 7,227 trees to offset the emissions of one Silverado may seem impossible, but what if EVs, powered by renewable energy, eliminate such emissions altogether?
• What if the balloon of CO2 you’re imagining shrinks year by year, thanks to advancements in battery technology and charging infrastructure?

The Moral: Innovate for a Cleaner Tomorrow

The lesson is clear: the future of mobility must prioritize sustainability. Whether it’s through adopting EVs, planting trees, or demanding greener policies, the onus is on individuals and industries alike to embrace change. As Clay’s comment reminds us, every choice we make—be it the car we drive or the miles we cover—has a measurable impact.

If you're inspired to explore eco-friendly alternatives to traditional gas-guzzlers, here’s a list of the best green cars you can buy right now, as recommended by Consumer Reports.

Engage With Us

Have you ever considered the environmental impact of your vehicle? What changes, if any, have you made to reduce your carbon footprint? Share your experiences in the comments below—let’s discuss solutions, one mile at a time.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.