The three biggest contributors to emissions in transport

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26.04.2023

The three biggest contributors to emissions in transport

According to the UK Government’s 2022 Transport and Environment statistics, transport was the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, producing 24% of the UK’s total emissions – a staggering total of 406 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e).

In context, these results were recorded during a worldwide pandemic, and so one can assume that these figures would have naturally been even higher – perhaps significantly so. 55% of the fall in total UK greenhouse gas emissions between 2019 and 2020 can be attributed to the reduction in emissions from transport – the largest drop on record. Before the country was shut down by COVID-19, transport emissions remained rather stable, with the improved fuel efficiency of most vehicles offset by increased usage.

The Government’s study pinpointed passenger cars, Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and vans as the three biggest contributors to emissions in the transport sector. According to the data, cars and taxis made up 52% of the emissions from domestic transport, emitting 51 MtCO2e. Meanwhile, HGVs were responsible for 19% of domestic transport emissions, producing 18.6 MtCO2e, and vans were producing 16 MtCO2e, a total of 16% of these emissions.

What is especially concerning is that when these figures are updated later this year, they will almost certainly show an increase in emissions produced as the data catches up with society reverting to many of its pre-COVID norms. The long-term expectation is that the tide will eventually turn as electric vehicles become more prevalent on the roads. Fortunately, we’re prepared for this transition. Our unique electric motor technology can be applied to the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors, as well as to off-highway, aerospace, marine, and industrial applications.

As the world embraces electrification and sustainable technology is applied to more sustainable modes of transport, the startling figures seen in the UK Government’s report will become a thing of the past. Our electric motors will be integrated into many electrical machines, including the electric cars, vans and HGVs that will continue to play a vital role in the transport sector.