CO2 Emissions from Cars: Facts and Figures
Are you curious about the environmental impact of your car? Wondering how much CO2 cars emit, or whether electric vehicles offer a cleaner path forward? Let’s examine the details.
Transport plays a major role in greenhouse gas emissions, releasing a significant amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This article examines the situation in the European Union, but the principles apply across the globe.
Transport and Emissions: An Overview
In 2019, transport accounted for roughly a quarter of the EU’s total CO2 emissions. Road transport made up a substantial portion of this, contributing 71.7% of transport emissions.
The EU has set an ambitious goal: to slash greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 90% by 2050, using 1990 as a baseline. This is part of the broader European Green Deal, which aims for climate neutrality by mid-century.
Transportation is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions have increased over the past three decades. Between 1990 and 2019, transport emissions jumped by 33.5%.
The Role of Cars in EU Emissions
Road transport currently contributes about a fifth of the EU’s total emissions. Passenger cars are a major contributor, responsible for 61% of the CO2 emissions from road transport within the EU.
In 2018, the average occupancy rate for cars in Europe was only 1.6 people per vehicle. Increasing carpooling or promoting public transport, cycling, and walking can help to reduce emissions.
Electric Vehicles: A Cleaner Alternative?
Reducing CO2 emissions can be achieved through two main avenues: improving vehicle efficiency and switching to alternative fuels.
In 2019, most road transport in Europe used diesel (67%), followed by petrol (25%). However, electric cars are gaining popularity. In 2021, electric vehicles accounted for 17.8% of new passenger vehicle registrations, up from 10.7% in 2020.
Sales of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have soared since 2017, tripling in 2020 when current CO2 targets were introduced. Electric vans also saw growth, representing 3.1% of the new van market in 2021.
When assessing the environmental impact of a car, it is vital to consider emissions from production and disposal, in addition to those produced during use. The production and disposal of electric cars currently produce more emissions than internal combustion engine vehicles, and the level of emissions varies based on the way electricity is produced.
Despite this, electric cars are proving to be cleaner than gasoline-powered vehicles, based on the average energy mix in Europe. Furthermore, electric cars should become even more environmentally friendly as the share of electricity from renewable sources increases, especially given plans to make batteries more sustainable. However, efforts to improve the fuel efficiency of new cars are slowing.
EU Targets and Measures to Reduce Emissions
The EU is rolling out new CO2 emission targets aimed at reducing harmful emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
The new legislation sets the path towards zero CO2 emissions for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 2035. Intermediate emissions reduction targets for 2030 are set at 55% for cars and 50% for vans. The rules were agreed upon by the Parliament and EU countries in October 2022 and approved by Parliament in February 2023.
To complement the proposed CO2 targets for cars and vans, the EU intends to implement: a new emissions trading system (ETS) for road transport and buildings; an increased share of renewable transport fuels; the removal of tax advantages for fossil fuels; and a revision of the alternative fuels infrastructure legislation to expand capacity.
In addition to setting targets for car emissions, measures for planes and ships are also under review, including the inclusion of maritime transport in the emissions trading scheme, revising the scheme for aviation, and proposing more sustainable fuels for aviation and ships.
While aviation and shipping account for only about 8% of the EU’s total emissions, their emissions continue to climb.
