CO2 emissions from cars: Facts and figures (infographics) 

Ever wondered how much CO2 is emitted by cars or whether electric vehicles really are a cleaner alternative? Check out our infographics to find out, Society.

Transport was responsible for about a quarter of the EU’s total CO2 emissions in 2019, of which 71.7% came from road transportation, according to a report from the European Environment Agency.

The EU aims to achieve a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 2050, compared with 1990. This is part of its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve climate neutrality by 2050 under the European Green Deal road map.

Transport emissions on the rise

Transport is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions have increased in the past three decades, rising 33.5% between 1990 and 2019.

Significantly reducing CO2 emissions from transport will not be easy, as the rate of emission reductions has slowed. Current projections put the decrease in transport emissions by 2050 at only 22%, far behind current ambitions.

Cars major polluters

Road transport accounts for about a fifth of EU emissions.

CO2 emissions from passenger transport varies significantly depending on the transport mode. Passenger cars are a major polluter, accounting for 61% of total CO2 emissions from EU road transport.

At the moment average occupancy rate was only 1.76 people per car in Europe in 2018. Increasing it by car sharing or shifting to public transport, cycling and walking, could help to reduce emissions.

Are electric cars cleaner?

There are two ways to reduce CO2 emissions from cars: by making vehicles more efficient or by changing the fuel used. In 2019, the majority of cars road transport in Europe used diesel (67%) followed by petrol (25%).

However, electric cars are gaining traction, representing 11% of all new registered passenger vehicles in 2020.

Sales of electric vehicles - battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles - have surged since 2017 and tripled in 2020 when the current CO2 targets started to apply.

Electric vans accounted for 2.3% of the market share for new registered vans in 2020.

To calculate the amount of CO2 produced by a car, not only the CO2 emitted during use must be taken into account, but also the emissions caused by its production and disposal.

The production and disposal of an electric car is less environmentally friendly than that of a car with an internal combustion engine and the level of emissions from electric vehicles varies depending on how the electricity is produced.

However, taking into account the average energy mix in Europe, electric cars are already proving to be cleaner than vehicles running on petrol. As the share of electricity from renewable sources is set to increase in the future, electric cars should become even less harmful for the environment, especially given EU plans to make batteries more sustainable.

However, efforts to improve the fuel efficiency of new cars are also slowing.

EU targets to reduce road transport emissions

The EU is introducing new CO2 emission targets, which aim to cut harmful emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (vans).

In July 2021, the European Commission proposed to reduce the limit for emissions from cars and vans by a further 15% from 2025; followed by a 55% reduction for cars and 50% for vans by 2030 and to reach zero emissions by 2035. Parliament’s Environment Committee backed the 2035 goal in May. Parliament will adopt its negotiating position in the June plenary, after which it will enter talks with EU countries.

Other EU measures to cut transport emissions

To reduce emissions from road transport, the EU intends to complement the proposed CO2 targets for cars and vans, with:

• A new emissions trading system (ETS) for road transport and buildings;
• 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, MEPs are reviewing other measures in the transport sector, notably for planes and ships: including maritime transport in the emissions trading scheme; revising the scheme for aviation; and proposing more sustainable fuels for aviation and ships.

Check out the infographic on the EU's progress towards reaching its 2020 climate change targets.

More on making cars and vans more sustainable 

• Procedure file 
• Study: CO2 emission standards for new cars and vans (February 2022)  
• Climate change 

• EU responses to climate change
• EU and the Paris agreement: towards climate neutrality
• EU Climate Law: MEPs confirm deal on climate neutrality by 2050
• Infographic: timeline of climate change negotiations
• Climate change: raise global ambitions to achieve strong outcome at COP26
• Europe’s one trillion climate finance plan
• Green deal for Europe: First reactions from MEPs
• Parliament supports European Green Deal and pushes for even higher ambitions
• The European Parliament declares climate emergency
• EU defines green investments to boost sustainable finance
• How to increase green investment in the EU
• Why is EU funding for regions important?
• EU environmental policy to 2030: a systemic change
• Green Deal: key to a climate-neutral and sustainable EU
• What is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved by 2050?
• Mitigating climate change with the EU's clean energy policy
• Social Climate Fund: Parliament’s ideas for a just energy transition
• Reducing carbon emissions: EU targets and measures
• The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and its reform in brief
• Cutting EU greenhouse gas emissions: national targets for 2030
• Climate change: better using EU forests as carbon sinks
• Carbon leakage: prevent firms from avoiding emissions rules
• Reducing car emissions: new CO2 targets for cars and vans explained
• Just Transition Fund: help EU regions adapt to green economy
• Renewable hydrogen: what are the benefits for the EU?
• Climate change in Europe: facts and figures
• Greenhouse gas emissions by country and sector (infographic)
• Infographic: how climate change is affecting Europe
• Emissions from planes and ships: facts and figures (infographic)
• CO2 emissions from cars: facts and figures (infographics) 
• EU progress towards 2020 climate change goals (infographic)
• Sustainable forestry: Parliament’s work to fight deforestation
• Endangered species in Europe: facts and figures (infographic)
• How to preserve biodiversity: EU policy (video)
• Creating a sustainable food system: the EU's strategy

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