Newly published government data shows electric vehicles will slash greenhouse gas emissions from transport following mass adoption by drivers.

EVs will eventually transform the greenhouse gas profile of the private car in the near future

Statistics released by the Department for Transport show that travelling by electric car is the second lowest emitter of direct and indirect transport greenhouse gases (GHG), beaten only coach travel.

A passenger trip by train is marginally less polluting, according to AA analysis of the data, but loses out to EVs because of its direct CO2 emissions, of which an EV has none. Direct emissions are produced by the type of transport itself, indirect emissions cover CO2 from the production of the fuel it uses. In the case of EVs, that is electricity generation.

The statistics also show that, in 2021, cars made up 75% of the road vehicle miles travelled within the UK but produced 57% of transport emissions, while HGVs made up a much smaller proportion of the vehicle miles (6%) and their emissions were disproportionately greater (21%).

“Today’s government statistics illustrate how EVs will eventually transform the greenhouse gas profile of the private car in the near future. The only impediment to further improvement is the mix of electricity generation in the UK – more wind, solar and tidal power will make car journeys even greener,” said Jack Cousens, the AA’s head of roads policy.

“It will also make the cost of travel cheaper. As it is, the AA’s Recharge Report shows that powering an EV with an ultra-rapid charger is cheaper per mile than fuelling with petrol.”

Other findings from the DfT statistics include:

• Domestic transport was responsible for emitting 109 MtCO2e (million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) in the UK, a 10% increase from 2020 (when the UK was largely in lockdown), although emissions remain well below historic trends.
• Transport produced 26% of the UK’s total emissions in 2021 and remains the largest emitting sector in the UK.
• The majority (91%) of emissions from domestic transport in 2021 came from road vehicles (100 MtCO2e). The biggest contributors to this were cars and taxis, which made up 52% of the emissions from domestic transport (57 MtCO2e), heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) (20% of domestic transport emissions, 21 MtCO2e) and vans (17% of emissions, 18 MtCO2e).

The data also indicates the need for increased car sharing to help reduce emissions from private car travel. As the figures suggest cars emit more GHGs per passenger mile than trains and coaches that convey more people, therefore maximising the number of people per vehicle can reduce emissions per person.

Emissions affected by new trends in mileage and fuel use

The new dataset also explores trends in mileage and fuel use. In 2021, cars made up 75% of the road vehicle miles travelled within the UK, but produced 57% of transport emissions, while HGVs made up a much smaller proportion of the vehicle miles (6%) and their emissions were disproportionately greater (21%). This is mainly because smaller vehicles are more fuel efficient, and HGVs typically travel longer distances with greater loads.

Between 1990 and 2021, new cars have generally been more fuel efficient – so while mileage has been increasing, emissions have not been rising proportionately. But to counter this, new car fuel efficiency has been decreasing since 2016; largely driven by an increase in the proportion of SUVs and other large vehicles amongst new car registrations

Average new van fuel efficiency has increased in recent years because of the arrival of the Euro 6 legislation in 2016. However, the large increase in van usage since 1990 has meant a proportionate rise in emissions as a result, while cars and HGVs have reduced their emissions over the same time period.

And for HGVs, the fuel efficiency gains have been offset by an increase in the proportion of larger/heavier HGVs amongst new registrations.

To access the government statistics in full, please click here.