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 2024, emitting the equivalent of 319 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer (g CO₂e per km). Meanwhile, diesel powered luxury cars emitted roughly 207 g CO₂e per km. On average, petrol cars and diesel cars had a similar carbon footprint, at around 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 2024, by market segment and fuel type
(in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer)
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. (July 8, 2024). Carbon footprint of cars in the United Kingdom in 2024, by market segment and fuel type (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 18, 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 2024, by market segment and fuel type (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer)." Chart. July 8, 2024. Statista. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233409/carbon-footprint-of-cars-by-type-uk/
GOV.UK. (2024). Carbon footprint of cars in the United Kingdom in 2024, by market segment and fuel type (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 18, 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 2024, by Market Segment and Fuel Type (in Grams of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent per Kilometer)." Statista, Statista Inc., 8 Jul 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 2024, 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 November 18, 2024)
Carbon footprint of cars in the United Kingdom in 2024, by market segment and fuel type (in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer) [Graph], GOV.UK, July 8, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233409/carbon-footprint-of-cars-by-type-uk/
