Toyota Motor Company (TMC) in Japan has calculated the huge savings in carbon-dioxide emissions due to motorists driving its hybrid vehicles.

The total is 15 million fewer tons (13.6 tonnes) of carbon dioxide, which (at sea level) would be seven billion cubic metres of gas.

The saving is calculated based upon the amount of CO2 that would have been emitted by petrol-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

That sounds impressive, but what do such big numbers actually mean?

To store that amount of CO2 gas, you would need a container two storeys (six metres) high and one metre wide that would stretch 60 times around the equator.

Another comparison – particularly relevant at this time of year – is that the CO2 would fill the 1.7 million cubic metres of the Melbourne Cricket Ground at least 4,285 times. That’s once a week for more than 82 years.

Alternatively, it would blanket 90 per cent of NSW to a depth of one centimetre – or envelop both Victoria and Tasmania with a 2.2cm covering.

Toyota’s calculations are based on its global sales of 2.68 million hybrids, including Prius and Hybrid Camry.

It has worked out the estimated distances these vehicles have travelled and the official fuel-efficiency rating in each country or region, and then factored in a CO2 conversion rate.

Prius is Toyota’s and the world’s best-selling hybrid with cumulative sales fast approaching two million, including more than 15,000 in Australia.

Source: http://news.toyota.com.au/toyotas-hybrids-make-a-big-difference