Let’s be brutally honest: the car industry is a bit like a teenager who swears they’ll tidy their room but ends up just shoving dirty socks under the bed. For years, we’ve been fed tales of how CO2 emissions from new cars in Europe were steadily dropping, like some grand eco-friendly victory lap. From 148.2 grams per kilometre in 2019 to a tidy 106.4 grams in 2023 – hurrah for electrification, hurrah for progress! But brace yourself, because in 2024, that lovely downward trend has veered into an embarrassing U-turn. Yes, new cars emitted an average of 106.8 grams of CO2 per kilometre last year. A measly 0.4-gram increase, but still: the first rise in years. And honestly? It’s not even surprising.
What’s going on here? You’d think with all those shiny Teslas, humming hybrids, and trendy EVs zipping across European roads, emissions would keep plummeting. But no, reality is more stubborn than an old diesel refusing to start on a frosty morning. The main culprit? Germany. Yup, the land of Autobahns and Bratwurst, accounting for a quarter of all new car registrations in Europe, has properly mucked things up. In 2024, the average CO2 emissions of new cars there jumped by 3.6%, from 113 to 117.1 grams per kilometre. Why? Because our eastern neighbours gave electric cars the cold shoulder. Sales of fully electric vehicles (EVs) in Germany crashed by a whopping 28.6%, largely because the government scrapped EV subsidies. No more incentives, no more enthusiasm. Suddenly, Germans were snapping up petrol- and diesel-guzzling SUVs, because apparently, bigger is still better.
But let’s not point fingers too eagerly. It’s not just Germany. Across Europe, the share of pure EVs dropped from 15.5% to 14.5%. Not a catastrophe, but a hint that the electric revolution is starting to sputter. Meanwhile, plug-in hybrids are holding their own, but they’re hardly CO2-neutral if you don’t plug them in often enough. And let’s be real: who’s always in the mood to wrestle with a charging cable after a long day? Exactly. The upshot is that the average European car is has become slightly dirtier again, despite all the suits in Brussels and the carmakers’ lofty promises.
Before you start picturing us all choking on exhaust fumes, there’s some good news too. Countries like the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland are still leading the pack in clean cars. In the Netherlands, new cars emit just 65.3 grams of CO2 per kilometre on average – a number the rest of Europe can only fantasise about. And in Belgium? We’re not doing too shabbily either, with an average of 78 grams per kilometre. That’s partly thanks to the fleet market, where companies are going all-in on EVs, and the Flemish EV subsidy giving private buyers a nudge. But let’s not get too patriotic: the private market here is also drifting back to petrol cars and self-charging hybrids, which pump out a bit more CO2.
Then there’s the elephant in the room: EU regulations. In 2024, new cars weren’t allowed to exceed 115.1 grams of CO2 per kilometre, and we just about managed that. But this year, the bar’s been raised to 93.6 grams – a target about as realistic as a Lada winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Carmakers have cleverly lobbied to delay checks until the end of 2027, because otherwise, they’d already be facing billion-euro fines. Smart move, but it shows the industry itself isn’t entirely sold on this lightning-fast green transition.
And don’t get me started on SUVs. Those blasted SUVs. They’re everywhere, like weeds taking over your lawn. In 2019, 38% of new cars were SUVs, often with petrol or diesel engines. They’re big, heavy, and thirstier than a fresher at a keg party. No wonder they’re driving up CO2 figures. But let’s be honest, who can resist a hulking beast that looks like it could conquer a mountain, even if you only use it to pop to the shops?
So, what now? Is the electric dream going up in smoke? Not quite. In Belgium, the share of EVs is still growing, with 24.5% of new cars in the first half of 2024 being fully electric – an 8% jump from last year. And brands like BYD and MG, churning out affordable Chinese EVs, are getting private buyers on board. But the truth is, the shift to electric isn’t as smooth as the marketing folks would have us believe. Charging infrastructure is still a sore point – good luck finding a fast charger when you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere. And don’t even mention winter, when your EV’s range shrinks faster than your New Year’s resolutions.
Still, there’s hope. New models like the 375hp Jeep Compass EV or the Toyota RAV4 with its sporty hybrid options prove electrification doesn’t have to be dull. And let’s not forget, the car industry has always been ace at pulling solutions out of the hat, usually at the eleventh hour. So yeah, 2024 was a small step backwards, but with a bit of throttle (or rather, a bit of juice), we’ll get there.
For anyone now itching to nab a cleaner ride (or a proper roaring beast), check out our marketplace. At Volty, you’ll find a cracking range of cars, from frugal EVs to beefy SUVs. Head to https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/ and find the motor that’ll make your heart race.
