Small SUVs reduce life-cycle GHG emissions by half compared to electric vehicles compared to gasoline vehicles
A small electric SUV with a 300-mile range generates 52% less greenhouse gas emissions life cycle than a comparable gasoline-powered vehicle, according to United States Department of Energy (Ministry of Education and Training).
Current greenhouse gas emissions from production and distribution are approximately double gasoline production and distributionBut gasoline-powered vehicle tailpipe emissions far outnumber tailpipe emissions, accounting for nearly three-quarters of total emissions over a vehicle’s lifetime, the DOE notes.
Comparison of 2024 lifetime greenhouse gas emissions of small SUVs (according to the US Department of Energy)
And while fossil fuel production and combustion will never get cleaner, overall EV emissions can be reduced by using renewable energy to power the grid. This is already happening. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) found in 2020 that 94% of Americans already live in a place where, based on the local grid, electric cars are cleaner 50 mpg more than a gasoline car.
Still, other analyses have found that SUVs are still not the best choice for the environment regardless of whether they run on electricity or gasoline. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said earlier this year that SUVs emit 20% more CO2 compared to cars regardless of powertrain type. If those additional emissions were compared across countries, they would make SUVs the fifth-largest CO2 polluters in the world, according to the IEA.
Hyundai Kona 2025 Electric Car
The IEA also warned in 2023 that SUV market is driving global oil demandcounteract some of the emissions reductions one might hope to see from greater EV adoption. SUVs are typically heavier than cars, which affects the efficiency of their combustion and electric powertrains. That inefficiency is amplified by the surge in global SUV sales, which have reached record 48% by 2023, according to the IEA.
In this case, the DOE’s distinction between overall SUV emissions and emissions from smaller models is key. The DOE has previously noted that Smaller SUVs are better for the environment on CO2 emissions, and electric and plug-in hybrid cars are even better.
