European Cars: Electric Or Gas Polluters?

Transport is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions have increased in the past three decades, rising by 33.5% between 1990 and 2019. Passenger cars are a major polluter, accounting for 61% of total CO2 emissions from road transport in the EU. While electric cars are already proving to be cleaner than petrol-run vehicles, Europeans are not buying them as often as regulators would like. Instead, they are opting for gas-powered SUVs, which emit more pollution.

Electric cars are cleaner than petrol cars

Electric cars are widely considered to be cleaner than petrol cars. Electric cars emit, on average, more than three times less CO2 than equivalent petrol cars. In the best-case scenario, an electric car with a battery produced in Sweden and driven in Sweden can emit 83% less CO2 than an equivalent petrol car. Even in the worst-case scenario, an electric car with a battery produced in China and driven in Poland still emits 37% less CO2 than petrol.

The primary reason for this disparity in emissions is the fuel source. Electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions, while petrol cars burn gasoline, which emits carbon pollution. The amount of carbon pollution from charging electric vehicles depends on how local power is generated, such as through coal, natural gas, wind, or solar. As the share of electricity from renewable sources increases, electric cars will become even less harmful to the environment.

In addition to lower emissions, electric cars are also more energy-efficient than petrol cars. Electric vehicles use approximately 87-91% of the energy from the battery and regenerative braking to propel the vehicle. In contrast, petrol vehicles only convert about 16-25% of the energy from gasoline into movement. This higher energy efficiency contributes to the overall cleaner profile of electric cars compared to petrol cars.

While some argue that the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries creates more carbon pollution than producing petrol cars, the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with electric vehicles are typically lower over their lifetime. This is because electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions and produce significantly fewer greenhouse gases during operation. Researchers have estimated that even when accounting for higher emissions during manufacturing and end-of-life, electric vehicles still have lower total GHG emissions than petrol cars.

However, it is important to note that the benefits of electric cars over petrol cars depend on the specific context. For example, the type of energy used to generate electricity for charging electric vehicles can impact their overall environmental impact. Additionally, the production and disposal of electric vehicle batteries can contribute to emissions, but advancements in battery technology and recycling can mitigate these concerns.

Gas-powered SUVs are more polluting

Despite the efforts of the European Union to introduce stricter standards for global-warming-related carbon dioxide emissions, gas-powered SUVs remain a significant contributor to pollution. The EU's plans aim to reduce harmful emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, with ambitious targets for 2035. However, the popularity of gas-powered SUVs among European consumers is hindering progress.

Gas-powered SUVs emit more pollution than older conventional cars. A study by the climate charity Possible revealed that an SUV purchased in 2023 will release more carbon dioxide per kilometre than a conventional engine car bought a decade earlier. This trend is not limited to Europe, as SUVs now account for nearly half of all cars sold worldwide. The surge in SUV sales is reversing climate progress, with the carbon emissions from the global SUV fleet outpacing that of most countries.

SUVs produce more planet-heating pollution due to their larger size and less fuel-efficient engines. According to the International Energy Agency, SUVs consumed about 20% more fuel than the average medium-sized car. This increased fuel consumption contributes to higher carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbating the climate crisis. The shift towards larger vehicles, including SUVs, in Europe and other regions, has led to a rise in average carbon-dioxide emissions per mile.

While electric car sales are increasing globally, the growing popularity of SUVs offsets the positive impact of this trend. In 2022, electric cars exceeded 10 million in sales for the first time, yet the number of electric SUVs only accounted for 16% of total SUV sales. The majority of SUVs on the road are still gas-powered, contributing to worsening air quality and posing a growing health concern.

It is worth noting that the situation is evolving, and there are signs of progress. Small SUVs are now recognised as the greenest of all vehicles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's latest report on carbon emissions. This shift towards more efficient and less polluting small SUVs is a positive development, and sales of green vehicles in the US continue to hit new records. However, the overall trend of gas-powered SUVs contributing to increased pollution remains a pressing issue that requires further action and policy changes to address the environmental and health concerns associated with these vehicles.

Stricter emission targets for car manufacturers

Stricter emission targets are being set for car manufacturers in the European Union as part of a broader effort to push the auto industry towards greener, zero-emission vehicles. The EU has introduced new CO2 emission targets, aiming for a 15% average reduction in emissions from new passenger cars by 2025 compared to 2021 levels. This means that the fleet-wide target for CO2 emissions will drop to 93.6 grams per kilometre. The EU is also complementing these targets with a new emissions trading system (ETS) for road transport and buildings and is reviewing measures for planes and ships.

The EU's CO2 rules include a pooling mechanism, allowing manufacturers to combine their fleets to meet emission standards collectively. Different manufacturers can act jointly to meet their targets, as long as they respect competition law. Smaller manufacturers, responsible for fewer than 1,000 new cars or vans registered in the EU per year, are exempt from meeting specific emission targets unless they voluntarily apply. "Small-volume" manufacturers (producing fewer than 10,000 cars or 22,000 vans per year) can propose their own targets, and "niche" car manufacturers (producing 10,000 to 300,000 cars per year) can apply for derogation until 2028.

The new targets will require manufacturers to make significant changes to their fleets. For example, Volkswagen and Ford face the largest reduction effort, needing to cut emissions by approximately 21%. Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota must reduce emissions by more than the average of 12%. BMW, Kia, and Stellantis are closest to meeting their targets, with reductions of 9-11% needed. Volvo is also close to meeting the new standards.

One key strategy for manufacturers to meet the targets is to increase the share of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in their fleets. This will require a substantial boost in BEV market share for some companies. For instance, Ford and Volkswagen need to increase their BEV share by around 17 to 18 percentage points. Others, like BMW and Kia, will still need to increase their electric vehicle sales by about 8 to 9 percentage points.

The EU's stricter emission targets are necessary as transport is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions have increased in the past three decades, rising 33.5% between 1990 and 2019. Passenger cars account for 61% of total CO2 emissions from EU road transport. While electric cars are already proving to be cleaner than petrol vehicles, European customers are not buying them in the desired numbers. Instead, they are increasingly choosing large SUVs, which emit more pollution.

Low-emission zones to reduce air pollution

Low-emission zones (LEZs) are an increasingly popular method of reducing air pollution in cities. They are a holistic approach to the challenges of air pollution and transport sustainability, and are aligned with the goal of reducing emissions and improving the quality of urban life. LEZs are a key tool for local governments and the general public, who can lobby for their creation as a way of advancing environmental justice. Environmental justice on air quality issues is crucial to ensure that all communities, especially those in areas of high traffic and industrial activity, have healthy environments in which to live and work.

The designation of LEZs in cities is now a tool used around the world to combat air pollution. They are also a way of managing congestion in large cities. LEZs can boost alternative urban mobility solutions, such as electric-powered transport, and bring notable health benefits, such as improved respiratory health and mental wellbeing. A study by Prof Eleonora Fichera found that the introduction of London's low-emission zone in 2008 and its ultra-low-emission zone in 2019 provided evidence that clean air policies deliver substantial health and productivity benefits.

To assess the effectiveness of an LEZ in improving air quality, rigorous and accurate monitoring must be put in place. Traditionally, reference stations or official stations were used to monitor urban air quality and a range of meteorological parameters. These stations have precision technology that provides reliable data.

LEZs can also help to reduce noise pollution and raise environmental awareness among residents and visitors. The aim is to create an urban environment in which sustainable transport is the norm, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. LEZs can also offer economic opportunities to small businesses and individuals through access to the benefits of the LEZ. For example, participating businesses making deliveries in the LEZ in Los Angeles County achieved 50% reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions.

While the transport sector has seen a 33.5% increase in greenhouse gas emissions over the past three decades, road transport accounts for about a fifth of EU emissions, and passenger cars account for 61% of total EU road transport emissions. To reduce emissions from road transport, the EU has introduced new CO2 emission targets, which aim to cut 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. However, despite these efforts, European car buyers are increasingly choosing large crossover vehicles and SUVs powered by gas engines, which emit more pollution.

Gas-guzzling vehicles are a major problem

The popularity of gas-powered vehicles in Europe is a concern. Despite the availability of electric cars, many Europeans are opting for large crossover vehicles and SUVs with gas engines. These vehicles emit more pollution, and the shift towards them has led to a reversal in the previous decline of emissions from European cars. The average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars in Europe did fall by 28% between 2019 and 2023, but this was mainly due to the increasing number of electric vehicle registrations, which reached 23.6% of the EU's new car fleet in 2023.

To address the issue of gas-guzzling vehicles, the EU is taking several measures. It has introduced new CO2 emission targets, aiming for zero emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 2035. The EU is also implementing a new emissions trading system (ETS) for road transport and buildings and exploring renewable hydrogen as a cleaner fuel option. Additionally, the ECA has suggested introducing noise reduction targets and improving low-emission zones to reduce air and noise pollution.

While these efforts are commendable, there are challenges to their implementation. Some cities have been resistant to implementing low-emission zones, and there has been social unrest in response to these measures, as seen in London with the vandalism of ULEZ monitoring cameras. Furthermore, European automakers face the risk of significant fines if they fail to meet the stringent emissions standards set by the EU.

Overall, gas-guzzling vehicles are a significant problem in Europe, impacting air quality and public health. Addressing this issue requires a combination of stricter emissions standards, incentives for electric vehicles, and effective enforcement of pollution reduction measures.

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