Production and Destruction
Automotive production leaves a giant footprint because materials like steel, rubber, glass, plastics, paints, and many more must be created before a new ride is ready to roll. Similarly, the end of a car's life doesn't mark the end of its environmental impact.
How much pollution is caused by manufacturing a car?
Around 5.6 tonnes of CO2 are released during a petrol or diesel car's manufacture on average, around three quarters of which are released during production of the steel body in white. Building the average electric car produces 8.8 tonnes of CO2, 43 per cent of which can be attributed to the construction of the battery.
How much impact do cars have on the environment?
A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. This assumes the average gasoline vehicle on the road today has a fuel economy of about 22.0 miles per gallon and drives around 11,500 miles per year. Every gallon of gasoline burned creates about 8,887 grams of CO2.