Applying Vehicular Networks for Reduced Vehicle Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions

These days the detrimental effects of air pollutants and concerns about global warming are being increasingly reported by the media. In many countries, fuel prices have been rising considerably. In western Canada, for instance, the gasoline price almost doubled from about 53 cents/liter in 1998 to 109 cents/liter in 2010 (Wiebe, 2011). In terms of the air pollution problem, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from vehicles are considered to be one of the main contributing sources. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the largest component of GHG emissions. For example, in Japan in 2008, the amount of CO2 emissions from vehicles (200 million ton) is about 17 percent of the entire CO2 emissions from Japan (1200 million ton) (Tsugawa & Kato, 2010). The Kyoto Protocol aims to stabilize the GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous alterations to the regional and global climates (OECD/IEA, 2009). As a result, it is important to develop and implement effective strategies to reduce fuel expenditure and prevent further increases in CO2 emissions from vehicles.