How much greenhouse gases are emitted to manufacture a new car (e.g., a Prius)?

Question

Basically I'm looking at the calculation for the greenhouse gas efficiency of new car purchase beyond the delta of old car vs. new car specs.

Answer 1

Good question. I read somewhere that it takes more energy and resources to build, maintain and recycle a Prius than it does to build, maintain and recycle a Jeep. It may be cheaper to run but the environmental damage has already been done during manufacture. There is also the heavy metals contained in the batteries which have a bio-toxic effect and must be recovered costing more energy again.

Answer 2

It varies enormously by car, but on average about 20% of the energy used by a car in its lifetime is used in its manufacture.

Answer 3

Very little. The human influence in the global pollution rate is less than one percent. Pollution from vehicles is a fraction of that one percent.