Cars With Lowest CO2 Emissions: Full List by Car Type, Size, Energy Source

Low-emission vehicles, or cars with the lowest CO₂ emissions, are hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles that do not emit tailpipe emissions.

Cars with the lowest CO₂ emissions emit less than 100 grams of carbon emissions per kilometer and have a zero-emission range of twenty miles. Some other ‘zdero emissions’ cars are electric vehicles, but these, while not emitting tailpipe emissions, still generate emissions when they are charged.

Moreover, some batteries are very damaging to the environment. Ultra-low emissions cars are vehicles (hybrid and electric), including vans, that emit less than 75 grams of carbon emissions per kilometer.¹

But what are the cars with the lowest CO₂ emissions? This complete guide breaks it down.

Cars With Lowest CO2 Emissions

Every year the cars with lowest CO₂ emissions are ranked according to class and performance.

The vehicles that usually make the list include the lowest emission hybrid cars, the best low-emission SUV and cars with no CO₂ emissions during operations.

Of course, the manufacturing does create emissions and so does the eventual disposal.

Best Green Cars 2022

The best green cars 2022 are cars ranked by CO₂ emissions, and the list includes cars with CO₂ emissions less than 50g/km, and hybrid cars with less than 50g/km.

List of Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

Gasoline-powered cars are often dismissed too quickly for being the worst cars for CO₂ emissions.

However, the lowest-emission gas cars do exist, and the list often includes the lowest emission SUV as well.

List of Electric Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

The following table contains a list of electric cars with low CO₂2 emissions:

It must be noted however that the life cycle GHG emissions of a Tesla Model 3 car is 376g CO₂e per km.

Hybrid Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

Included on the list of cars with the lowest CO₂ emissions, is a hybrid a low-emission vehicle. The below table indicates hybrid car CO₂ emissions per km:

Plug-in hybrid CO₂ emissions have been under scrutiny in 2022, as the EU is reassessing the CO₂ emissions from cars that fall within this category. It has been found that PHEV emissions are much higher than previously stated.

Cars With Lowest CO2 Emissions

Cars with lowest CO₂ emissions must emit below 50g of CO₂ per km to qualify for low-CO₂ status, according to EU car standards.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can only achieve that feat by driving 70% of their overall mileage on the electric motor. However, because driver behavior cannot be controlled, it is estimated that instead of the expected 38g of CO₂2 per km, PHEV emissions are between 114 and 190 g of CO₂ per km.⁶

Cars With Less Than 50 CO2

The below table lists the cars with less than 50 CO₂ per km:

Petrol Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

As petrol car engines start burning fuel while in motion, the process produces CO₂ through the tailpipe. The lower the amount of CO₂ emissions, the more fuel-efficient the vehicle and the better it is for the environment.

The below table lists petrol cars with low CO₂ emissions:

Diesel Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

Along with petrol cars with low CO₂ emissions, there are also several diesel cars with low CO₂ emissions.

The below table highlights the different diesel cars with low CO₂ emissions:

Automatic Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

Automatic cars are generally more expensive than manual cars, and more complicated to maintain. Fortunately, in the pro column is the fact that there are many different types of automatic cars with low CO₂ emissions.

The below table lists the most popular automatic cars with low CO₂ emissions:

Small Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

The below list highlights the best small cars with low CO₂ emissions (0g of CO₂e per km):

• Renault Twizy Expression Auto
• Hyundai Ioniq Electric Premium Auto
• Peugeot e-208 Active 136 Auto
• VW e-UP! Auto
• Audi e-tron quattro Technik Auto
• MG5 EV Excite Auto
• Fiat 500 Hatch Electric Action Auto
• Tesla Model X Long-Range Auto
• Hyundai Kona Electric SE Connect Auto¹¹

Family Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

Family cars are some of the most popular vehicles around the world, especially since low-emission options became available. There are several family cars with low CO₂ emissions available today including BEV and PHEV options.

The below list details these car options (0g of CO₂e per km)

• Genesis GV60 Premium Single Motor RWD
• Hyundai Ioniq Electric
• Mercedes EQB 300 4Matic
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 Electric SE Connect
• Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Auto
• Toyota Prius PHEV 1.8 VVT-i BE Plus Hybrid Auto
• Skoda Superb iV Hatch
• Peugeot 508 Fastback Hybrid
• Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i¹²

Sports Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

For the discerning car buyer with a taste for speed, there are some excellent options when it comes to sports cars with low CO₂ emissions.

The below table indicates the most popular sports cars with low CO₂ emissions:

Company Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

For companies working to reduce their overall carbon emissions, company cars with low CO₂ emissions are a perfect option for staff.

Related Reading: Carbon Offset Car Rental Calculator: Get Your Precise Offset for any Rental Company

SUV With Low CO2 Emissions

The below table lists some of the best SUVs with low CO₂ emissions options:

Estate Cars With Low CO2 Emissions

The most economical estate cars with low CO₂ emissions are listed below:

• SEAT Leon ST 1.6 – 94g of CO₂ emissions per km
• Honda Civic Tourer i-DTEC EX+ – 103 g of CO₂ emissions per km
• Toyota Auris Touring Sports (Hybrid 1.8) – 85g of CO₂ emissions per km
• Dacia Logan 1.5 MCV dCi – 74.3g of CO₂ emissions per km
• Skoda Octavia Estate Greenline III – 88.3g of CO₂ emissions per km¹⁶

Read More About: Car Carbon Footprint Calculator: Choose Your Car’s Year, Make, and Model

How Much CO2 Does a Car Emit per Mile?

When it comes to comparing traditional gasoline-powered vehicles to lowest-emission cars, the question is, how much CO₂ does a car emit per mile?

This question refers to conventional cars, and the answer is as follows:

• The average passenger car emits between 404 and 411 grams of carbon dioxide per mile. This figure is based on the assumption that the car in question gets 22 miles per gallon of fuel.

Cars With Lowest CO2 Emissions: What Are the Benefits of Low-Emission Cars?

Because low-emission cars are tipped to be the best choice for the environment, the following question arises: what are the benefits of low-emission cars?

The biggest benefits of low-emissions cars, including low-emission diesel cars and ultra-low-emission cars, are as follows:

• Reduced running costs: Electric vehicles in general have lower running costs, mainly because charging costs are much less than filling up with fuel. In addition to lower running costs, electric vehicles consist of fewer parts that would need replacing or maintenance over the years, in comparison with fuel-powered vehicles.
• Easier to drive: Electric vehicles are all automatic and have been built to include stronger pull-away speeds, which means they are more effortless to drive than gasoline-powered vehicles.
• Clean air zones / low emissions zones: One of the most attractive benefits of cars with the lowest CO₂ emissions is that they are exempt from costs in low emission and clean air zones (in the UK).
• Better air quality: Low-emission cars, or zero-emission cars, are simply better for the environment and ensure better air quality because of the lack of tailpipe emissions. The UK government is committed to a cleaner future and is aiming to phase out all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040.
• Increased battery quality and driving range: Modern electric vehicle batteries provide a driving range of up to 250 miles on a single charge.²

Which Type of Car Has the Lowest Carbon Footprint?

Even though there is still some debate about which type of car has the lowest carbon footprint, it is generally accepted that electric vehicles hold that distinction in some areas, while hybrid electric vehicles take top honors in other areas.

For instance, the best low-emission cars (electric vehicles), could produce three times the CO₂ in the Northern Midwest, as the same type of cars being charged on the West Coast.

The main reason for this is that Northern Midwest energy is still produced by coal-fired power plants, while the West Coast receives its electricity from natural gas sources.

The Nissan Leaf battery electric car has a smaller CO₂ footprint in the western regions of the US and in Texas, compared to the gasoline-powered Toyota Prius. But, in the Northern Midwest, the Prius comes out on top with a smaller CO₂ footprint.

Carbon Footprint of Electric Cars vs Gasoline

When considering the carbon footprint of electric cars vs gasoline, the measurements can be tricky.

That’s because the batteries used in most EVs are highly dangerous to the planet, especially after disposal and during manufacturing.

How Many Electric Cars in the World?

How many electric cars in the world? In 2022, there are more than 16.5 million electric cars worldwide.

This is compared to just 120,000 electric cars in 2012.

How Many Electric Cars in the US?

How many electric cars in the US?

In the US alone, there are 2,531,206 BEV and PHEV vehicles on the road.

In 2022, more than 56,000 battery-electric vehicles have already been sold, as well as over 16,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles and over 72,000 hybrid cars.

California Electric Car Rebate

California offers the California Electric Car Rebate program which incentivizes drivers to purchase green vehicles in exchange for a rebate of up to $7,000

Carbon Footprint of Electric Cars vs Gasoline

The carbon footprint of electric cars vs gasoline cars is hard to measure without taking into consideration the manufacturing and length of the vehicle’s life cycle.

Electric cars (in Europe) are estimated to emit nearly 3 times fewer carbon emissions than petrol or diesel vehicles: When considering electric cars produced in the EU, electric car driving in Sweden, and battery production in Sweden, EV cars with lowest CO₂ emissions in the EU can emit up to 80% fewer carbon emissions than diesel vehicles, and 81% fewer carbon emissions than petrol vehicles.

However, measuring the eco-damage that is created by the batteries used in electric cars is simply impossible. There’s no way to measure the impact that toxic chemicals leeching into groundwater can have, or the mining cost to the planet to obtain the materials.

Knowing the cars with the lowest CO₂ emissions is a great place to start to lower your own personal carbon footprint.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cars With Lowest CO2 Emissions