The carbon footprint of cars in the UK varies greatly depending on the type of car it is, as well as the fuel type it uses. On average, luxury cars with petrol engines had the highest carbon footprint of all car types in 2023, emitting the equivalent of 318 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer (g CO₂e per km). Meanwhile, diesel powered luxury cars emitted roughly 211 g CO₂e per km. On average, petrol cars and diesel cars had a similar carbon footprint, at roughly 170 g CO₂e per km. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) produce considerably less emissions than their fossil fuel powered equivalents. Excluding BEVs, the transport modes with the lowest carbon footprint in the UK are trains, local buses, and coaches.
Carbon footprint of cars in the United Kingdom in 2023, by market segment and fuel type
(in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer)
Characteristic
Diesel
Petrol
BEV
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Examples of each market segment: Mini - Fiat 500; Supermini - Ford Fiesta; Lower medium - Opel Astra; Upper medium - BMW 3 series; Executive - BMW 5 series; Luxury - Mercedes Benz S class; Sport - Audi TT; Dual purpose 4X4 - Land Rover Discovery; MPV - Ford C-Max.
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GOV.UK. (June 7, 2023). Carbon footprint of cars in the United Kingdom in 2023, by market segment and fuel type (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233409/carbon-footprint-of-cars-by-type-uk/
GOV.UK. "Carbon footprint of cars in the United Kingdom in 2023, by market segment and fuel type (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer)." Chart. June 7, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233409/carbon-footprint-of-cars-by-type-uk/
GOV.UK. (2023). Carbon footprint of cars in the United Kingdom in 2023, by market segment and fuel type (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233409/carbon-footprint-of-cars-by-type-uk/
GOV.UK. "Carbon Footprint of Cars in The United Kingdom in 2023, by Market Segment and Fuel Type (in Grams of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent per Kilometer)." Statista, Statista Inc., 7 Jun 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233409/carbon-footprint-of-cars-by-type-uk/
GOV.UK, Carbon footprint of cars in the United Kingdom in 2023, by market segment and fuel type (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233409/carbon-footprint-of-cars-by-type-uk/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Carbon footprint of cars in the United Kingdom in 2023, by market segment and fuel type (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer) [Graph], GOV.UK, June 7, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233409/carbon-footprint-of-cars-by-type-uk/