Hybrid cars are driving down emissions, but big polluters are getting worse not better

The latest motor vehicle emissions data for Australia shows hybrid cars are driving down tailpipe pollution, but big emitters such as utes, four-wheel-drives and vans have gotten worse not better.

Record sales of hybrid vehicles helped drive down emissions for passenger cars in Australia last year by the biggest margin to date, according to data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

However, tailpipe pollution from Australia’s biggest emitting vehicles went up – not down – despite bold promises from the automotive industry to reduce environmental harm.

A shift in buyer tastes to utes and four-wheel-drives – and a spike in van sales due to the boom in online shopping – drove up average emissions for those categories, which combined accounted for more than one-third of new motor vehicles reported as sold last year.  

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries – the Canberra-based lobby group that represents multinational car companies – initiated voluntary vehicle emissions targets three years ago, in preparation for future Federal Government mandates.

While passenger cars have steadily reduced emissions and undercut their targets over the past three years – largely due to the wider adoption of fuel-miser technology and hybrid vehicles – the biggest polluters on Australian roads exceeded their targets by the greatest amount since the scheme launched.

Initial top-line data released yesterday by the FCAI – ahead of detailed analysis due in a fortnight – shows ‘MC and NA’ vehicles (industry-speak for utes, four-wheel-drives and vans) belched out an average 212.752 grams of CO2 per 100 kilometres, versus 212.534 grams the year prior, and much higher than the 2022 target of 189 grams of CO2 per 100 kilometres.

‘MA’ vehicles – the industry description for passenger vehicles – posted their biggest emissions reductions to date, falling to 131.016 grams of CO2 per 100 kilometres, versus 146.510 grams the year prior – and significantly less than the 2022 target of 146 grams of CO2 per 100 kilometres for that category.

While not directly acknowledging the canyon between the consistent emissions reductions of passenger cars – and the lack of genuine improvements to the pollution levels of the big emitters – the chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Tony Weber, said any future government-mandated emissions policies would need to take into account the unique demands of Australian motorists and the vast distances travelled.

In a media statement Mr Weber said any future vehicle emissions policy needs to “considers consumers, the unique nature of the Australian market, product availability, affordability, and the full range of zero and low emission technologies.”

Repeating his earlier comments, Mr Weber said electric cars are not the only way to reduce vehicle emissions.

“Attempts to simplify our journey to net zero as one that can only be achieved through electric vehicles ignore the buying preferences of Australian consumers, market supply realities, price, and the very real impact of other low emission technologies.”

Smoke and mirrors: How utes, vans and four-wheel-drives barely made a dent on emissions reduction targets

Year and vehicle category	Grams of CO2 per 100km	Target to not exceed
2022 ‘MA’ Passenger cars	131.016	146
2022 ‘MC+NA’ Utes, four-wheel-drives, vans	212.752	189
2021 ‘MA’ Passenger cars	146.510	150
2021 ‘MC+NA’ Utes, four-wheel-drives, vans	212.534	193
2020 ‘MA’ Passenger cars	149.524	154
2020 ‘MC+NA’ Utes, four-wheel-drives, vans	217.191	197

Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

MORE: 2021 Australia vehicle emissions report
MORE: 2020 Australia vehicle emissions report

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