U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #524: June 23, 2008
Carbon Footprint of New Light Vehicles Drops Between 1975 and 2007
The carbon footprint is a measure of greenhouse gas emissions produced by cars which is closely tied to fuel economy. As fuel efficiencies have increased for each size class, the carbon footprint for that class has decreased a proportional amount. Overall, both cars and trucks have experienced a decrease in annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 43% between 1975 and 2007. Within the car classes, midsize cars experienced the greatest improvement with a decrease in annual greenhouse gas emissions of 52%. Among the truck classes, midsize SUVs had the largest decrease with 47.8%. Of all vehicle classes, midsized pickup trucks reduced greenhouse gas emissions the least with a decrease of only 4.8 percent.
Sales Weighted New Car Carbon Footprint by Size Class, Model Years 1975 and 2007 
Sales Weighted New Truck Carbon Footprint by Size Class, Model Years 1975 and 2007 
Notes:
* Annual CO2 Emissions are based on 55% City Driving and 45% Highway and 15,000 miles of annual driving.
** No small vans or small pickups were offered in the 2007 model year.
Supporting Information
Sales Weighted New Light Vehicle Carbon Footprint by Size Class, Model Years 1975-2007
| |
Carbon Footprint
(Annual Tons of CO2*) |
|
| Size Class |
1975 |
2007 |
Percent Change
1975-2007 |
| Cars |
| Small |
11.9 |
7.8 |
-34.5 |
| Midsize |
16.0 |
7.6 |
-52.5 |
| Large |
16.6 |
9.1 |
-45.2 |
| Small Wagon |
9.7 |
7.2 |
-25.8 |
| Midsize Wagon |
16.4 |
8.7 |
-47.0 |
| Large Wagon |
18.2 |
10.3 |
-43.4 |
| Total Cars |
88.8 |
50.7 |
-42.9 |
| Light Trucks |
| Small Van** |
10.6 |
0.0 |
** |
| Midsize Van |
16.4 |
9.3 |
-43.3 |
| Large Van |
17.3 |
11.8 |
-31.8 |
| Small SUV |
13.5 |
10.4 |
-23.0 |
| Midsize SUV |
18.2 |
9.5 |
-47.8 |
| Large SUV |
18.0 |
11.1 |
-38.3 |
| Small Pickup** |
9.7 |
0.0 |
** |
| Midsize Pickup |
10.4 |
9.9 |
-4.8 |
| Large Pickup |
16.7 |
11.8 |
-29.3 |
| Total Light Trucks |
130.8 |
73.8 |
-43.6 |
|
Notes:
* Annual CO2 Emissions are based on 55% City Driving and 45% Highway and 15,000 miles of annual driving.
** No small vans or small pickups were offered in the 2007 model year.
Source: Carbon footprint calculations were made using the GREET Model Version 1.8 and were applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 through 2007, Appendix E: Data Stratified by Vehicle Type and Size. |
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