Q1) What proportion of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transport?
Q2) Are road traffic emissions forecast to fall?
Q3) What is the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)?
Q4) How much CO2 does the average new UK car produce ?
Q5) What are the average CO2 emissions of new cars by fuel type?
Q6) What are alternatively-fuelled vehicles?
Q7) What is the proportion of the new car market by fuel type?
Q8) What is the percentage and number of new cars sold that are battery electric?
Q9) Is the number of diesel cars falling?
Q10) Is the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to be banned in the future?
Q12) How many cars are powered by petrol, diesel and alternative fuels?
Q16) How many public electric vehicle charging devices are available in the UK?
Q17) Is there an even regional distribution of charging devices?
Q18) Where can I find information on the availability of electric vehicle charge points?
Q19) Where can I search for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and tax bands for new and used cars?
Q20) How can I cut my vehicle’s fuel consumption - and hence CO2 emissions - when driving my car?
Q21) Can the UK’s climate change goals be achieved without drivers travelling less overall?
Q23) How is the vehicle tax rate for a car assessed?
Q24) How many licensed cars in Great Britain are in each CO2 emission band?
Q25) What about local air pollutants?
Q26) What can be done to reduce or mitigate the impact of local air pollution?
Q27) What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone that operates in London?
Q29) Have any other cities introduced Clean Air Zones?
Q30) How can I check if I will be charged to drive in a Clean Air Zone?
Q31) How much petrol and diesel is sold each year?
Q32) When was E10 petrol introduced in the UK and will my car be able to run on it?
Q33) Are the manufacturers' official fuel economy figures accurate?
Q34) How many front gardens have been concreted over to provide parking for cars?
Q1) What proportion of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transport?
A1) In 2023, emissions in the UK of the seven greenhouse gases (GHG) that the UK reports internationally were estimated to be 385 MtCO2e, a decrease of 20 MtCO2e (5 per cent) from the 2022 estimate of 405 MtCO2e. GHG emissions in 2023 are 53 per cent lower than they were in 1990. When broken down by gas, UK emissions are dominated by carbon dioxide, which is estimated to have accounted for around 79 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK in 2023.
The domestic transport sector consists of emissions from road vehicles, domestic aviation and shipping (including military), fishing vessels, and railways. It does not include emissions from international aviation or shipping. In 2023, domestic transport accounted for around 29 per cent of all territorial UK GHG emissions, almost entirely through carbon dioxide emissions. The main source of emissions from this sector is the use of petrol and diesel in road vehicles.
Domestic transport emissions fell by 1 per cent between 2022 and 2023, largely due to reductions in road vehicle diesel use, and despite a rise in emissions from road vehicle petrol use. This is the first-time domestic transport emissions have fallen since 2020 when travel was heavily restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emissions from domestic transport remain 10 per cent lower than in 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.
Before 2020 there had been relatively little overall change in the level of GHG emissions from domestic transport with emissions only 4 per cent lower in 2019 than they were in 1990. Between 1990 and 2007, when domestic transport emissions peaked, there was a general increasing trend with some fluctuations year to year. After this peak, emissions declined most years apart from a period of increase between 2013 and 2017. Overall, emissions are estimated to have been around 13 per cent lower in 2023 than in 1990.
Road vehicles are the most significant source of GHG emissions in the domestic transport sector (and accounted for about 89 per cent of the UK’s GHG emissions in 2023). Cars and taxis accounted for the largest proportion (53 per cent) of domestic transport GHG emissions and both HGVs and light vans respectively contributed to 16 per cent of domestic transport GHG emissions.
Motor vehicle traffic volumes have generally increased since 1990, other than a 3 per cent fall seen between 2007 and 2010 following a recession and a large 21 per cent fall between 2019 and 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Motor vehicle traffic continued to recover in 2023, increasing 2 per cent when compared to 2022. However, despite increased motor vehicle traffic in 2023, road transport emissions were 1 per cent lower than in 2022, largely as a result of lower diesel use.
With lower petrol consumption outweighing an increase in diesel consumption and improvements in fuel efficiency of both petrol and diesel cars, the volume of emissions from passenger cars has generally been in decline since 2005 although decreases were partially offset by an increase in emissions from light commercial vehicles prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emissions of carbon dioxide are closely related to the amount of fuel used, whilst nitrous oxide and methane emissions are influenced more by the vehicle type and age.
Source: Final UK greenhouse gas emissions statistics: 1990 to 2023
Latest figures show that in 2024, total UK net territorial greenhouse gas emissions are provisionally estimated to have been 371 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), a decrease of 4% from the 2023 estimate of 385 MtCO2e. Emissions were 54 per cent lower than they were in 1990. Carbon dioxide made up around 78 per cent of the 2024 total.
In 2024, domestic transport remained the largest emitting sector and accounted for 30 per cent of all emissions, with carbon dioxide accounting for 98 per cent of emissions for this sector. The main source of emissions from this sector is the use of petrol and diesel in road vehicles. However, domestic transport sector emissions fell by 2 per cent between 2023 and 2024, largely due to reductions in road vehicle diesel use, and despite a rise in emissions from road vehicle petrol use. Domestic transport sector emissions continue to remain below levels seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, domestic transport sector emissions are estimated be 12 per cent lower than in 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.
Between 1990 and 2024, domestic transport sector emissions have reduced by 15 per cent. Primarily as a result of a continual growth in vehicle kilometres travelled on roads, domestic transport emissions grew to a peak in 2007, 8 per cent higher than in 1990. Since then, emissions from this sector had fallen to around 1990 levels up until 2019, driven mainly by improvements in new car fuel efficiency, as well lower traffic growth than in previous years as a result of a dip following the 2008/2009 recession.
Source: Provisional UK greenhouse gas emissions statistics: 2024
Q2) Are road traffic emissions forecast to fall?
A2) Yes. Despite traffic levels in England and Wales being forecast to rise by between 8 and 54 per cent between 2025 and 2060, road traffic emissions are forecast to fall.
Within these forecasts, seven different plausible scenarios have been constructed that reflect the uncertainty in the key drivers of road traffic demand. Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions are projected to fall significantly in all scenarios. This is largely driven by the anticipated uptake of Electric Vehicles (EVs). The three ambitious EV uptake scenarios are the Technology, Mode-balanced Decarbonisation and Vehicle-led Decarbonisation scenarios. They all assume delivery of the ambition to phase out petrol and diesel cars and van sales by 2035, and the implementation of vehicle decarbonisation policies such as zero emission vehicle mandates. The Core, Low Economy, High Economy, Behavioural Change and Regional Scenarios are based on existing firm and funded policies only. The smallest reduction in CO2e emissions is a reduction of 38 per cent in the High Economy Scenario, which assumes high rates of growth in population, GDP and employment levels. The largest reduction is 98 per cent in the Mode-balanced Decarbonisation Scenario, which assumes a high and fast uptake of EVs and an increased share of public transport relative to the Core Scenario.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and particulate (PM10) emissions follow broadly similar trends with NOx reducing by between 61 per cent (in the High Economy Scenario) and 98 per cent (in the Mode-balanced Decarbonisation Scenario) between 2025 and 2060. For PM10, the range is a reduction of between 49 per cent (in the High Economy Scenario) and 98 per cent (in the Mode-balanced Decarbonisation Scenario) over the same period.
Source: National Road Traffic Projections 2022
Q3) What is the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)?
A3) The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) is a new laboratory test developed by the European Union which aims to provide a closer representation of ‘real-world’ fuel consumption and CO2 figures from passenger cars, as well as their pollutant emissions. The old lab test – called the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) – was designed in the 1980s and due to evolutions in technology and driving conditions had become outdated.
Full details about the new testing procedure can be viewed here.
Q4) How much CO2 does the average new UK car produce ?
A4) In the United Kingdom, the average CO2 emissions for cars registered for the first time in 2024 was 102.1 grams CO2/km using the WLTP measure. This is down 6.2 per cent compared with 2023.
Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – New Car Registrations
Q5) What are the average CO2 emissions of new cars by fuel type?
A5) Using the WLTP measure, the average CO2 emissions for new car registrations in 2023 by fuel type were as follows:-
- petrol cars had emissions of 143 grams CO2/km, consistent with 2022
- diesel cars had emissions of 170 grams CO2/km, up from 164 grams CO2/km compared to 2022
- hybrid electric (petrol) cars had emissions of 126 grams CO2/km, consistent with 2022
- plug-in hybrid electric (petrol) cars had emissions of 31 grams CO2/km, down from 35 grams CO2/km compared to 2022
Source: Green Fleet Index
Q6) What are alternatively-fuelled vehicles?
A6) The internal combustion engine (ICE) has dominated road transport over the past century but with a need to tackle climate change and end our reliance on fossil fuels, there is an environmental and an economic imperative to do things differently.
Alternatively-fuelled vehicles (AFVs) are any vehicles that run on something other than just petrol or diesel. They include:-
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
These vehicles are wholly driven by an electric motor, powered by a battery that can be plugged in to the mains. There is no combustion engine and hence zero emissions at the tailpipe.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
These vehicles are powered by a traditional ICE – either petrol or diesel – as well as an electric battery. The battery is charged using excess energy from the ICE, as well as by reclaiming the car’s kinetic energy when it brakes.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
Plug-in Hybrid vehicles combine both a plug-in battery pack and an electric motor with a traditional ICE. Both the electric motor and the ICE can drive the wheels and at any time, it can be running on the battery alone, on the ICE alone, or on a combination of the two.
Range Extended Electric Vehicles (REEVs)
These are battery electric vehicles that run on electricity but employ an auxiliary power unit (known as a range extender). The range extender (typically a small petrol ICE) drives an electric generator which will recharge a car’s battery. The range extender does not drive the vehicle’s wheels.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)
Fuel cells are devices that convert chemical energy (in this case compressed hydrogen) directly into electrical energy. This produces electricity to power the vehicle. In most hydrogen fuel cell cars, a high-power fuel cell and motor combination provide propulsion in place of an ICE.
Other Gas-Fuelled Vehicles
Various other gases can be used in an alternative ICE to provide motive power. These include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas in compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG) forms.
Biodiesel and Bioethanol Vehicles
These are vehicles that run on biofuels – either biodiesel (made from vegetable or animal oil) or bioethanol (an alcohol made from plants). Bioethanol can be blended with petrol and used to power petrol engines with no modification. Similarly, biodiesel can be blended with diesel to run diesel cars.
Q7) What is the proportion of the new car market by fuel type?
A7) The 2024 new car registration figures showed that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) registrations were up by 21.4 per cent compared to the previous year and accounted for 19.6 per cent of the new car market registrations. Around 64,000 more BEVs were registered by businesses and fleets than a year ago, with such vehicles representing a quarter (25.4 per cent) of those segments’ registrations. Overall, the market share of BEVs was still short of the 22 per cent demanded by the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) also enjoyed a strong year, with an 18.3 per cent increase in registrations accounting for 8.6 per cent of the market. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) also recorded growth, up 9.6 per cent over the previous year to reach a 13.4 per cent market share.
Diesel share of the new car market has fallen in each of the past ten years. Diesel volumes fell 13.6 per cent in 2024 and their market share declined from 7.5 per cent in 2023 to 6.3 per cent in 2024.
In 2000, petrol-fuelled cars represented over 85 per cent of the total market. That level has fallen in recent years. Petrol-fuelled cars share of the new car market registrations stood at 52.2 per cent in 2024, down from 56.0 per cent in 2023.
Only one in 10 private buyers choose an electric vehicle in 2024. Petrol remained the most popular powertrain among these buyers, commanding 61.0 per cent of demand, with hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in second place (16.0 per cent).
Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – New Car Registrations
The latest figures for new car registrations can be viewed here.
Q8) What is the percentage and number of new cars sold that are battery electric?
A8) Details of both the percentage and number of new cars sold that are battery electric by quarter can be seen in the chart in our Green Fleet Index.
Q9) Is the number of diesel cars falling?
A9) Yes. In June 2024 there were 10.9 million licensed diesel cars on the roads in the United Kingdom. This compares with 11.5 million a year earlier. The number of licensed diesel cars peaked in September 2018 and has been falling ever since.
The proportion of diesel cars on the UK’s roads has also now fallen for the past six years. After holding a record share of 40.1 per cent in 2018, it has subsequently fallen to 32.3 per cent in June 2024.
Source: Department for Transport table VEH1103
The number of new diesel cars registered in 2024 also fell compared to the previous year. 123,104 new diesel cars were registered in 2024, down 13.6 per cent on the 142,434 sold in 2023.
Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – New Car Registrations
Q10) Is the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to be banned in the future?
A10) Yes. In April 2025, the government confirmed its intention to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030. However, some small and micro-volume manufacturers – such as McLaren and Aston Martin – were exempted from the 2030 phase out.
Vans with an internal combustion engine will also be allowed to be sold until 2035, alongside full hybrids and plug-in hybrid vans.
The government also announced that it would allow hybrid cars – like the Toyota Prius and Nissan e-Power – to be sold until 2035 to help ease the transition and give industry more time to prepare.
However, car makers will still have to sell a growing proportion of battery-powered vehicles each year. The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate requires that in 2025, 28 per cent of all cars sold by each of the big auto manufacturers must be zero emission, with the proportion rising to 80 per cent in 2030 and 100 per cent in 2035.
Firms have been given greater freedom on how to meet these targets, with increasing flexibility of the mandate for manufacturers up to 2030, so that more cars can be sold in later years when demand is higher.
The government’s response to the consultation that was held on the ZEV Mandate can be viewed here.
Q11) What is involved in switching to an electric car and will it save me money if I switch from a current petrol or diesel car?
A11) A Beginners Guide to Going Electric, produced by Electrifying.com and the Department for Transport can be viewed here. The guide helps drivers understand what is involved in switching to an electric car and provides practical advice and top tips.
A free app called EV8 Switch calculates how much money UK drivers could save by switching to an electric vehicle compared to their current petrol or diesel vehicle, along with details on the carbon dioxide (CO2) savings and air quality improvements they could achieve.
Q12) How many cars are powered by petrol, diesel and alternative fuels?
A12) Of the 32.5 million cars licensed in Great Britain at the end of 2023, 18.7 million were petrol powered (the same number compared to the previous year), 10.7 million were diesel powered (down 4 per cent compared to the previous year) and 3.1 million alternatively-fuelled (up 35 per cent compared to the previous year).
Source: Department for Transport table VEH1103
Q13) And of the alternatively-fuelled cars, how many are hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids and electric cars?
A13) The vast majority of alternatively-fuelled cars licensed at the end of 2023 in Great Britain were either hybrid electric cars, plug-in hybrid electric cars or battery electric cars. A small number were range extended electric cars or gas powered.
At the end of 2023, there were 1,567,528 hybrid electric (petrol) cars registered; 95,632 hybrid electric (diesel) cars; 511,802 plug-in hybrids (petrol); 10,812 plug-in hybrids (diesel); 916,576 battery cars; 9,599 range extended cars; 136 fuel cell cars; 26,855 gas powered cars; and 255 others.
Source: Department for Transport table VEH1103
Q14) What is the current proportion of the UK car fleet composition that is zero emissions at the tailpipe (fully battery electric or hydrogen)?
A14) The current proportion of the UK car fleet composition that is zero emissions at the tailpipe (fully battery electric or hydrogen) can be seen in the chart in our Green Fleet Index.
The columns to the left of the chart show the present and the historic composition of the car fleet. The column to the right is the predicted minimum fleet composition of 35 per cent zero emissions at the tailpipe cars which is required to meet RAC Foundation estimates of climate target car carbon goals in 2030.
Q15) How many plug-in battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrid electric cars are on the roads in the UK and what are the top 10 vehicles by make and model?
A15) The latest data on plug-in vehicles on the UK’s roads can be viewed here.
Q16) How many public electric vehicle charging devices are available in the UK?
A16) As of 1 April 2025, there are 76,507 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK.
Charging Speed:-
- 15,446 had 50kW of power or above, this represents 20 per cent of all charging devices
- 42,874 were in the lowest power rating banding, 3kW up to 8kW, which represents 56 per cent of all charging devices
Location :-
- 37,435 were designated as ‘destination’ chargers, this represents 49 per cent of all charging devices
- 28,316 were designated as ‘on street’ chargers, this represents 37 per cent of all charging devices
Compared to 1 January 2025:-
- there are 3,173 more devices, an increase of 4 per cent
- there was an increase in the total number of public charging devices in most countries and regions of the UK, with small decreases in the North East and Northern Ireland
Compared to 1 April 2024, 12 months previously:-
- there are 16,837 more devices, an increase of 28 per cent
Source: Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics: April 2025
Q17) Is there an even regional distribution of charging devices?
A17) No, there is an uneven geographical distribution in total charging devices across the UK. However, this distribution is more evenly spread for charging devices rated 50kW and above, although some regional disparities remain. Some local authorities have bid for government funding for charging devices, and others have not. Most of the provision of this infrastructure has been market-led, with individual charging networks and other businesses (such as hotels) choosing where to install devices.
London has a much higher level of charging provision per 100,000 of population than any other part of the UK, with 263 devices per 100,000. In comparison, the average provision in the UK was 113 per 100,000.
Northern Ireland has the lowest level of charging device provision in the UK, with 35 devices per 100,000, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber with 66 devices per 100,000.
Scotland has the highest rate of 50kW and above device provision at 34 charging devices rated 50kW and above per 100,000. The average provision in the UK was 22.9 per 100,000. 50kW and above charging device provision is lowest in Northern Ireland with 9.9 charging devices rated 50kW and above per 100,000. Most other regions have far more comparable 50kW or above device provision per 100,000 population.
Despite having a much higher number of total charging devices per 100,000 population than the rest of the UK, London is the region with the second lowest number of 50kW and above rated devices with 15.4 charging devices rated 50kW and above per 100,000. This is because most of London’s charging provision is devices rated 3kW up to 8kW located on residential streets.
Details of the number of public charging devices per 100,000 of population by UK country and region are shown in the publication below.
Source: Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics: April 2025
Q18) Where can I find information on the availability of electric vehicle charge points?
A18) There are a number of websites that that help electric vehicle drivers locate and navigate to their nearest electric vehicle charging point.
One such site is Zapmap which is a UK-wide map of electric vehicle charging points. Drivers can use the site to search and filter for electric vehicle charging points, as well as plan electric routes with the smart route planner.
In addition, many local authorities and public venues provide information on electric vehicle charging points within their area or at their venue on their website.
Q19) Where can I search for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and tax bands for new and used cars?
A19) Use the Vehicle Certification Agency database here,
You can search for new and used cars to find:-
- fuel consumption and CO2 emissions (by make and model)
- vehicle tax information (by make, model, registration date and current tax tables)
- the cost of tax for all vehicle types
For new cars only you can also search:-
- by tax band, including Band A (exempt from tax)
- by fuel economy
- for annual fuel running costs
- by company car taxation, based on CO2 bands
- by alternative fuel types
As well as using less fuel and paying less car tax, more efficient cars also emit lower CO2 emissions. Car showrooms display environmental labels showing the running costs, tailpipe emissions, fuel economy and VED rates of new cars. The labels make it easy to compare different cars and show a rating from band A (green) to band M (red), with A having the lowest CO2 emissions and M the highest.
An example environmental label can be viewed here.
Q20) How can I cut my vehicle’s fuel consumption - and hence CO2 emissions - when driving my car?
A20) There are a few easy things that you can do when you drive and look after your car to help reduce the amount of fuel you burn and so cut down on CO2 emissions. The key is to reduce the amount of work your engine has to do, because the greater the workload, the more fuel is burned – so the higher the CO2 emissions. By following the smarter driving tips below you could cut your CO2 emissions by up to 15 per cent – equivalent to an annual fuel saving of up to one month per year.
Before you set off:-
- Check your tyres are at the correct pressure
- Clear out any extra weight
- Have your vehicle serviced regularly
- Remove any unused roof racks and roof boxes
- Plan your route to avoid stop/start traffic conditions
While driving:-
- Drive at an appropriate speed
- Speed up and slow down smoothly
- Change gears at lower revs
- Avoid leaving your engine running
- Don’t use air conditioning unless you really need it
Further advice can be found in the RAC Foundation’s Eco-driving leaflet.
Q21) Can the UK’s climate change goals be achieved without drivers travelling less overall?
A21) Yes. The reduction in total carbon emissions from cars necessary to meet the UK’s climate change goals could be achieved without drivers travelling less overall but this would require big changes in other areas.
The Climate Change Committee’s Balanced Net Zero Pathway plots a course to net zero that’s compliant with its Sixth Carbon Budget (2033-2037). This requires annual CO2 emissions from cars to fall from about 57 million tonnes in 2021 to around 34 million tonnes by 2030.This is a reduction of 40 per cent.
Modelling by the RAC Foundation indicates that this reduction might be achieved by many possible scenarios. However, if the driving patterns of tens of millions of car owners are to go unchanged, then three other key factors will determine whether the required cuts in carbon emissions are likely to be met:-
- The take up of plug-in battery-electric cars,
- The proportion of car-driven miles accounted for by these battery-electric vehicles, and,
- The rate of departure of petrol and diesel cars from the UK’s vehicle fleet.
Further details can be viewed here.
Source: Is it necessary to reduce car mileage to meet our carbon emission goals?
Q22) What is the estimated percentage of total car miles driven by wholly zero-emissions-at-the-tailpipe cars in the UK?
A22) The Green Fleet Index is the estimated percentage of total car miles driven by wholly zero-emissions-at-the-tailpipe cars in the UK. It is calculated every quarter. After each quarter-end the index is updated using the latest DVLA vehicle records to determine zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road and the last two years of MOT test records to determine miles driven by age of car and fuel type.
Combined, this indicates how many of the miles covered by UK cars are driven by zero tailpipe emissions cars. It shows progress towards what RAC Foundation research indicates is the minimum proportion of zero tailpipe emission car mileage necessary by the end of 2030 to meet targets for carbon reduction from cars.
The Index can be viewed here.
Q23) How is the vehicle tax rate for a car assessed?
A23) Car vehicle tax rates are based on either engine size or fuel type and CO2 emissions, depending on when the vehicle was registered. (Other types of vehicle have their own rates).
1) For cars registered before 1 March 2001, the rate of vehicle tax is based on engine size.
2) For cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017, the rate of vehicle tax is based on fuel types and CO2 emissions. The lower a car’s emissions, the lower the vehicle tax payable on it.
3) For cars registered after 1 April 2017, the rate of vehicle tax is based on a vehicle’s CO2 emissions in the first year of registration.
Full details can be viewed here.
Q24) How many licensed cars in Great Britain are in each CO2 emission band?
A24) Prior to 2011, over 90 per cent of cars registered for the first time each year had emissions above 110 g CO2/km. This percentage had dropped to 59 per cent by 2015, following increases in new ultra low emission vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles registrations. A market shift to registering larger cars (eg SUVs) began to reverse this trend between 2015 and 2019 but there was a marked shift back towards lower emission vehicles in the last two quarters of 2019.
The number, and percentages, of vehicles in each CO2 emission band can be viewed in Department for Transport table VEH0206.
Q25) What about local air pollutants?
A25) It is estimated that in the UK poor air quality currently reduces average life expectancy at birth by six months. Transport is a major source of air pollution in the urban areas of the UK and much of Europe. As such, it has a significant role to play in reducing the risks to health, the environment and quality of life.
In the UK it is estimated that road transport contributes 20–30% of national emissions of air pollutants. However, it plays a much greater role in air pollution problems, because it is concentrated on the road network in the country’s towns and cities. Of the 600 local Air Quality Management Areas declared in the UK – areas which breach UK national air quality objectives – some 95% are a result of transport activity. The cost of this urban transport-related air pollution to human health is estimated at between £4.5 billion and £10 billion annually to the UK economy.
Road vehicles are responsible respectively for 33%, 15% and 18% of the total NOx, PM10 and PM2.5 emissions nationally. Whilst between 1998 and 2011, overall NOx emissions from road transport reduced by 60%, PM10 by 39% and PM2.5 by 46%, the change in emissions does vary between the vehicle types. NOx emissions from petrol cars have reduced by some 90% over this period, whereas emissions from diesel cars have actually risen by 250%. This dramatic difference is a result of a rapid growth in the number of diesel cars in the parc, and relatively higher NOx emissions of diesel vehicles compared to petrol vehicles.
Source: Air Quality and Road Transport: Impacts and Solutions
Q26) What can be done to reduce or mitigate the impact of local air pollution?
A26) Over the past two decades, consumers have increasingly been buying diesel cars because of the better fuel consumption they achieve compared to petrol powered cars and lower rates of Vehicle Excise Duty and company car tax incentives, which both reward low-CO2 options.
On a like for like basis, diesels emit fewer CO2 emissions than petrol cars. However, diesel cars have also historically tended to emit significantly more nitrogen oxide (NOx) than petrol cars which – along with particulate matter (PM) – is linked to poor air quality and health issues.
Over recent years so-called Euro standards have helped achieve significant reductions in PM emissions from both petrol and diesel cars. But, as far as diesels are concerned, these have not been matched by falls in NOx. Only now do the latest set of Euro 6 standards – the forthcoming Euro 6d which will include measurements of real-world driving emissions as well as lab-based figures – offer the prospect of a reduction in this too. But because cars have an average life span of more than a decade it will take several years for the newer, cleaner, models to work their way through the fleet.
A 2014 report for the RAC Foundation by the environmental consultants Ricardo-AEA recommended Ministers should consider introducing a new scrappage scheme aimed at taking the oldest and most polluting diesel cars off the road. However, subsequent work by the RAC Foundation in March 2016 and March 2017 concluded that neither a national scrappage scheme nor a targeted scrappage scheme offered the realistic prospect of making a significant improvement to air quality on a cost effective basis. The problem is less about whether a diesel car is old, but more about where diesel cars are used and how much. In the absence of adequate location and mileage data designing a workable scheme would be very challenging.
Source: Road Transport and Air Pollution – Where are we now?
Q27) What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone that operates in London?
A27) The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is an area that extends across all London boroughs where the most polluting vehicles must pay a charge in order to use the roads.
Most vehicles within the expanded zone now need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or pay a daily charge to travel within the area of the ULEZ. Petrol cars that meet the ULEZ standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA as new after 2005, although cars that meet the standards have been available since 2001. Diesel cars that meet the standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA as new after September 2015.
If your vehicle does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards and is not exempt, there is a daily charge of £12.50 to drive within the zone. This charge applies to cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes). The charge is in addition to the Congestion Charge.
Full details of the ULEZ can be viewed here.
Q28) How can I check if my vehicle meets the ULEZ standard in London or whether I need to pay the charge?
A28) Use the checker that can be found here.
Q29) Have any other cities introduced Clean Air Zones?
A29) Yes. There are now a number of clean air schemes operating in UK towns and cities aimed at reducing harmful emissions from road transport which contribute to poor air quality. The majority of these schemes are Clean Air Zones (CAZs) which have restrictions on the type and age of vehicles that are allowed to enter them. You might need to pay to drive in a CAZ if your vehicle does not meet emissions standards.
In England, schemes are currently operating in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead).
The Government confirmed in January 2025 that Greater Manchester will not now introduce a CAZ and instead approved an investment-led scheme to improve air quality.
In Scotland, Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are currently operating in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Full details of the LEZs in Scotland can be viewed here.
Q30) How can I check if I will be charged to drive in a Clean Air Zone?
A30) Use the service here to find out if there will be a daily charge to drive your vehicle in a Clean Air Zone in England.
For Scotland, use the service here to find out if there will be a daily charge to drive your vehicle in a Low Emission Zone.
Q31) How much petrol and diesel is sold each year?
A31) Sales of petrol reached a peak of 32.8 billion litres in 1990, equivalent to a 72 per cent market share of transport fuels. Sales subsequently fell every year (with the exception of 1998) until 2018 but in 2019, sales rose for the first time since 1998 (to 16.9 billion litres compared to 16.6 billion litres in 2018).
Petrol sales during 2020 were, of course, affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK with 13.1 billion litres of petrol sold. However, sales have subsequently increased every year since 2021 as restrictions on travel were removed and sales in 2024 now stand at 17.8 billion litres of petrol. This is above the 2019 level, the last full year before travel restrictions were introduced.
Until recently, barring a short decline in 2009, diesel has seen an average annual growth rate of 4 per cent in the last three decades. In 2018, diesel sales in the UK set a new record of 30.5 billion litres.
As with petrol sales, diesel sales were also affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK in 2020 with 25.0 billion litres of diesel fuel sold. However, sales increased in 2021 to 27.2 billion litres of diesel fuel and further increased in 2022 to 29.6 billion litres. However, in the last 2 years sales of diesel have fallen and the 2024 figure now stands at 28.2 billion litres.
The volume of petrol and diesel consumed in the UK year-by-year since 1990 can be viewed here.
Q32) When was E10 petrol introduced in the UK and will my car be able to run on it?
A32) E10 petrol was released to the public in September 2021.
E10 has up to 10 per cent ethanol compared with a maximum of 5 per cent in E5, meaning that standard grade petrol at the pumps has a higher bio-fuel content than the current E5. However, the new fuel has a lower energy content than E5 meaning drivers will do slightly fewer miles per gallon. The move is designed to help cut carbon emissions from fossil fuels.
There are about nineteen million petrol cars in the country, the vast majority of which are compatible with E10. You can check online if your car, van, motorcycle or moped can use E10 petrol. In any cases of doubt, drivers should check with their vehicle’s manufacturer.
Q33) Are the manufacturers' official fuel economy figures accurate?
A33) Experts have long questioned the validity of the official fuel economy figures which are measured in the laboratory and routinely quoted by car manufacturers. While a standardised test allows comparisons to be made between vehicles there has been concern that what is recorded in the laboratory is often at odds with what happens on the road where worse results are often recorded, particularly for smaller cars. For example, in November 2017, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) concluded that the average gap between official fuel consumption figures and actual fuel use for new cars in the EU had reached 42 per cent.
The new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) will provide a far more realistic representation of conditions encountered on the road than the old testing procedures and should provide more accurate figures. But the new test will not cover all possible variations and factors such as driving behaviour, traffic and weather conditions will mean that there will still be a difference between fuel economy figures measured in laboratory conditions and the real world.
Q34) How many front gardens have been concreted over to provide parking for cars?
A34) Figures analysed by the RAC Foundation show around 80 per cent of Britain’s 26 million dwellings were built with a front plot. Almost a third of these plots have been turned into hardstanding. This means seven million front gardens now contain concrete and cars rather than flowers and grass, a total roughly equivalent to 100 Hyde Parks or 72 Oylmpic Parks.
Houses built between 1919 and 1964 are most likely to have a front garden and hence it is these properties that are most likely to have seen the change.