According to an analysis conducted by advocacy organization Transport & Environment (T&E), a rise in the adoption of electric vehicles will result in Europe saving approximately 20 million tonnes of CO2 this year.

This is comparable to the emissions produced by eight coal-fired power stations and signifies one encouraging development in an industry notorious for its challenges in reducing carbon emissions.

Transportation is the sole sector that has seen an increase in emissions since 1990, trailing behind industries, power production, and construction, accounting for approximately

a third

Regarding EU pollution. However, T&E’s most recent State of European Transport report reveals

report

shows that emissions have started to decrease.

“The EU’s environmental policies are finally having an impact. With the shift towards electric vehicles, we’re beginning to observe a significant reduction in transportation-related emissions,” states William Todds, who serves as the executive director of T&E.

In 2024, Europe’s transportation industry emitted 1.05 billion tonnes of CO2, which marks a reduction from the 1.1 billion tonnes recorded in 2019—a decrease of 5%. This decline can be attributed mainly to the significant rise in electric vehicle adoption, gradually displacing gasoline and diesel-powered options over recent years.

Now is certainly not the moment to retract environmental initiatives,” asserts Todts. “To ensure the prosperity and security of our continent, we must redouble our efforts at this juncture.

Effective environmental measures have led to a significant increase in electric vehicle adoption.

Automobiles are the largest contributors to transportation-related pollution, emitting a combined total of 450 megatonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions annually, which accounts for 13 percent of the European Union’s overall emissions.

Battery electric vehicles

(BEVs) are already three times more environmentally friendly than petrol cars, and this advantage will increase as the electricity used to power them becomes even greener, according to T&E.

The advocacy organization forecasts that there will be 8.8 million battery electric vehicles on European roads this year, indicating that one out of every five newly purchased cars in the EU will emit no exhaust fumes.

The report attributes much of this advancement primarily to the European Union’s CO₂ regulations for vehicles. These guidelines have offered clarity for automotive manufacturers leading up to the 2025 objective. As companies have committed resources to shift their manufacturing processes toward electric vehicles, coupled with decreasing battery costs, it indicates that by 2025 we can expect an increased availability of more budget-friendly and mainstream electric vehicle options.

Does the EU have enough charging points for all its EVs?

Many people still view insufficient charging stations as a barrier to purchasing an electric vehicle. However, according to T&E analysis, the development of this infrastructure has kept up with the increase in battery electric vehicles.

Under the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), each country has annual targets based on a ratio of total charging power output and the number of electric cars on the road. The bloc’s 2025 target was exceeded back in 2022, and there are now more than 1,100

charge points

.

Across major roads, 11 nations have achieved the EU objective of installing charging stations at intervals not exceeding 60 kilometers. The AFIR is further accelerating the deployment of electric vehicle charging facilities in urban areas, with Oslo, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Brussels, and Ljubljana setting exemplary standards in this regard.

Vehicle manufacturing emissions ‘the next frontier’ according to T&E

Electric vehicles aren’t the ultimate solution to Europe’s widespread issue.

transport problem

, however.

For one thing, their production phase is still highly polluting. With around 10 million new vehicles sold per year, electric vehicle production (excluding the battery) is responsible for around 50 Mt CO₂ emissions.

Batteries, aluminium and steel are the three emission hotspots to target, according to T&E, which is urging greater use of green and recycled steel.

Aircraft emissions are hindering attempts to make transportation more sustainable.

Even with advancements on European roadways, the researchers caution that rising air pollution is offsetting attempts to reduce transportation-related emissions.

Europe’s

airlines

emitted 143 million tons of CO₂ last year, an increase of almost 10 percent from 2023.

The emissions from Europe’s maritime activities continue to be notably high at 195 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to the report, since these sectors are significantly dependent on fossil fuels.

However, with shipping having been incorporated into the EU’s carbon market (

ETS

Combined, both sectors are expected to generate €5 billion in revenue in 2024, as estimated by T&E.

These resources can help close the cost difference between eco-friendly e-fuels and conventional fossil fuels, which is crucial for advancing climate efforts and ensuring energy safety.

” Europe is gradually freeing itself from its reliance on oil, yet we continue to spend hundreds of billions on imports from foreign nations,” states Todts.

Imports of fossil fuels continue to be the primary energy supply for transportation, accounting for 96 percent of Europe’s crude oil and 90 percent of its natural gas sourced internationally as of 2023. These resources frequently come from authoritarian governments and at significant cost.