Kiera Jefferson
Cars are a major source of pollution, with road vehicles responsible for over half of the carbon dioxide emissions produced by transportation worldwide in 2022. Electric vehicles are a cleaner alternative as they do not produce direct tailpipe emissions, but they do generate emissions during production and when charged with electricity from non-renewable sources. Conventional vehicles that use gasoline or diesel produce the most direct emissions, and SUVs and pickup trucks are among the worst offenders. The EU has set stricter limits on car emissions to tackle high CO2 levels, and certain car brands, such as Jeep, Renault, Nissan, and Ford, are known for producing more polluting vehicles.
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What You'll Learn
Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions
Electric vehicles (EVs) produce zero tailpipe emissions, meaning they emit no pollutants from an exhaust pipe. This is in contrast to conventional vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs), which produce direct emissions through the tailpipe from burning gasoline or diesel fuel. However, it's important to note that EVs do generate indirect emissions during the production and charging process, especially if charged with electricity from non-renewable sources.
The absence of tailpipe emissions in EVs is a significant advantage in reducing air pollution and improving air quality, especially in urban areas with high traffic congestion. This zero-tailpipe-emission feature of EVs contributes to their overall lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional gasoline or diesel vehicles.
While EVs themselves produce no tailpipe emissions, the production and distribution of electricity used to charge them can result in emissions. The amount of these emissions depends on the energy mix used to generate electricity. For example, power plants using coal or natural gas emit carbon pollution, whereas renewable sources like wind or solar energy do not. As the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix increases, the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with EVs are expected to decrease further.
In addition to the environmental benefits, EVs also offer a more sustainable mode of transportation. With advancements in battery technology and the development of high-powered charging equipment, the range and efficiency of EVs are constantly improving. This makes them a more practical and attractive option for consumers looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
When considering the most polluting cars, it's important to look at both tailpipe emissions and overall emissions, including production and distribution. While EVs have zero tailpipe emissions, conventional vehicles with ICEs, particularly SUVs, pickup trucks, and luxury sports cars, tend to have higher tailpipe emissions and overall emissions. Stricter emission regulations, such as those implemented by the EU, are pushing automakers to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles with lower CO2 emissions.
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Gasoline and diesel vehicles produce the most direct emissions
The type of car that produces the most pollution depends on various factors, including the type of fuel used, the size of the car, and the number of cars produced by a particular manufacturer.
However, it is important to note that electric vehicles (EVs) do not have tailpipe emissions. While EVs produce emissions during the production and distribution of the electricity used to fuel the vehicle, they generally have a lower environmental impact than gasoline or diesel vehicles.
In terms of vehicle size, larger cars tend to emit more CO2 than smaller cars. For example, SUVs and sports cars emit higher levels of CO2 than small cars. Additionally, pickup trucks produce the most global emissions on average.
When considering the pollution produced by car manufacturers, it is necessary to look at the total number of cars produced and their individual emissions. For example, while luxury car brands like Bugatti and Rolls Royce have high emissions per car, mass-market carmakers like Ford have a more significant overall impact due to the vast number of vehicles they produce.
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SUVs emit high levels of CO2
Despite the EU's stricter limits on car emissions, the popularity of highly polluting vehicles like SUVs continues to rise. In 2023, SUVs accounted for a record 48% of global car sales, and over 50% of the market in "advanced economies", with around 20 million sales.
SUVs emit about 20% more CO2 than mid-size passenger cars. If these emissions were compared to countries, SUVs would be the world's fifth-largest emitter of CO2, surpassing Japan, Germany, and South Korea. The combustion-related CO2 emissions of SUVs increased by nearly 70 million tonnes between 2021 and 2022, nearing 1 billion tonnes. SUVs consume around 20% more oil than an average medium-size non-SUV car, and their rising sales are fuelling global oil demand.
The EU has set stricter limits for emissions from newly registered passenger cars, providing an incentive for automakers to produce and sell more fuel-efficient vehicles with lower CO2 emissions. From 2021, the average emissions for a manufacturer's entire fleet must not exceed 95 grams per kilometre. Fines will be imposed on firms that do not comply with the new regulations, and from 2030, the limit will be lowered to 61.75 grams.
While electric vehicles (EVs) do not have any direct tailpipe emissions, they do generate emissions during the production and distribution of the electricity used to fuel the vehicle. However, EVs are far more efficient than SUVs, and a range of EVs intended for urban environments offers up to 50 times the efficiency of SUVs.
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Pickup trucks produce the most emissions on average
The transportation sector is the largest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, constituting two-fifths of domestic emissions from burning fossil fuels. Within this sector, motor vehicles accounted for 83% of carbon dioxide emissions in 2019. Personal vehicles and commercial trucks are the predominant forms of passenger and freight transportation, and they averaged more carbon dioxide emissions per passenger-mile or ton-mile than most other modes of transportation.
Several factors affect emissions per passenger-mile, including vehicle size, average occupancy, the type of fuel used, and fuel efficiency. Conventional cars typically have greater fuel economy than light-duty trucks, and smaller vehicles tend to get better mileage than larger ones. For example, the most popular size car in 2020 emitted 0.60 pounds of carbon dioxide per vehicle mile, while a category of large pickup trucks built in that year had average emissions of 1.18 pounds of carbon dioxide per vehicle mile—nearly twice as much.
Pickup trucks, particularly large ones, produce the most emissions on average. In addition to carbon dioxide, automobiles using gasoline produce methane and nitrous oxide from the tailpipe, and all vehicles can emit hydrofluorocarbons from leaking air conditioners. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, do not have any direct tailpipe emissions but can generate indirect emissions during the production and distribution of the electricity used to fuel them.
While regulatory and legislative changes, such as tighter standards for fuel economy and emissions, are projected to reduce emissions moderately over the next decade, the average age of passenger vehicles driven in the United States is 12 years. As a result, it will take time for older, less efficient models to be replaced by newer, more environmentally friendly ones.
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Luxury sports cars produce the most CO2 per car
While electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, conventional vehicles that use gasoline or diesel still generate the most direct emissions. Although not all vehicles produce the same amount of emissions, with differences arising due to car models, brands, and types.
A study by Uswitch, a UK-based company, found that Bugatti, a luxury sports car brand, had the highest emissions of all the car brands in the study. Bugatti received the highest New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) with an average of 0.52 kg/km, much higher than any other brand. This was calculated using the assumption that the average British car owner drove 7,400 miles (11,909 kilometers) per year.
The study also found that newly registered luxury cars produce the most CO2 per car. This is in line with a report from the London School of Economics, which stated that the top 10% of U.S. households, including families with annual incomes of $158,002, produce 3.2 times the greenhouse gas emissions of the lowest 10% of households. These findings highlight how fast cars, among other luxury purchases, contribute to the wealthy's larger carbon footprint.
In addition to luxury sports cars, pickup trucks and large SUVs are also known to produce particularly high levels of CO2. Despite the EU setting stricter limits on car emissions to tackle high CO2 levels, the popularity of these high-polluting vehicles continues to rise.
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Frequently asked questions
While electric vehicles do not have any direct tailpipe emissions, they do generate emissions during production and when charged with electricity from non-renewable sources. Conventional vehicles that use gasoline or diesel generate the most direct emissions. However, the mass-market car brands, such as Ford, produce the most tailpipe pollution overall due to the sheer number of their vehicles on the road.
Among luxury car brands, Bugatti has the highest emissions. In general, SUVs and pickup trucks produce the most emissions, with small cars emitting far less.
A survey conducted by Which? found that Jeep, Renault, Nissan, and Ford are among the most polluting car brands on the road.
BMW, Mini, and Toyota were found to produce the least amount of NOx emissions in their vehicles. The Volkswagen family of cars (VW, Seat, Audi, and Skoda) also delivered some of the lowest emissions results.
The EU is one of the leaders in pushing for more sustainable car-based travel. They have set stricter limits for emissions from newly registered passenger cars, providing an incentive for automakers to produce and sell more fuel-efficient vehicles with lower emissions. The EU aims to achieve a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 2050 and plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035.
