A carbon dioxide storage means stores the carbon dioxide released in a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools the exhaust gas emitted by the internal combustion engine, and includes a thermal electric generator (TEG) configured to couple thermally the exhaust gas chamber to the absorber fluid chamber in a manner effective to heat the CO2 absorbent fluid by heat from the engine exhaust to release CO2 gas from the CO2 absorbent fluid and generate electricity in response to a temperature difference therebetween. The CO2 absorbent fluid is one of: a) an aliphatic di-functional nitrile (e.g. pimelonitrile); and b) an oligomeric poly-acrylonitrile (PAN).