If you drive in New South Wales, your car does more than get you from one place to another—it’s part of road transport’s impact on climate change. Cars, especially petrol or diesel car models, play a significant role in greenhouse gas emissions.
Every time you drive, your vehicle releases carbon dioxide out the tailpipe, along with other car emissions such as nitrous oxide and particulate matter.
This guide breaks down the full picture of a car’s carbon footprint and shows practical steps to make your driving a greener choice.
What’s a Car’s Carbon Footprint?
A car’s carbon footprint is the sum of all greenhouse gas going into the air from that car—from car manufacturing, fuel sources and actual driving, all the way to recycling. Most emissions from a petrol car or diesel car come from tailpipe emissions—what’s pushed into the air as the fuel burns.
With electric vehicles, it’s different. These vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions, but there are still carbon emissions created by battery production and from the electricity mix used for charging.
Light vehicles and light commercial vehicles, like many passenger vehicles seen on NSW’s roads, add to overall vehicle emissions, but each car, van, or commercial vehicles’ impact varies by how it’s used, what fuel sources it relies on, and its fuel efficiency.
How Are Car Emissions Calculated?
To get a proper look at car emissions, you have to think about lifecycle emissions—the whole journey from raw materials to the end of a car’s life:
- Manufacturing. Making cars, from steel, aluminium, plastics, and electronics, uses a lot of energy, often from fossil fuels. Manufacturing a typical petrol car produces about 5–6 metric tons of CO₂. For EVs, battery production increases this figure, adding around 30–40% more emissions compared to conventional cars.
- Fuel and Electricity Production. For petrol and diesel cars, this includes extracting, refining, and transporting fuel. For EVs, it’s about how the electricity is generated, coal, gas, or renewables.
- Driving. Petrol and diesel cars emit CO₂, nitrous oxide, and particulate matter from the tailpipe. EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions.
- End of Life. Disposing of or recycling the car and its parts also creates some emissions, though less than making and driving it.
Manufacturing: Where Do Most Emissions Come From?
Building a car takes a lot of energy. Car manufacturing, especially battery production for electric cars, creates a wave of carbon emissions at the start of every vehicle’s life.
This extra “carbon debt” for electric vehicles is paid off early since they have much lower operational emissions over time. Many manufacturers now rely heavily on renewable energy and clean energy for making cars and batteries.
As more raw materials get recycled and production uses renewable sources, these manufacturing emissions keep falling.
Greg Archer, Managing Director of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, puts it this way:
“This work dispels the myth that low carbon vehicles simply displace emissions from the exhaust to other sources. However, it does highlight the need to look at reducing carbon emissions from vehicles throughout their lifecycle. The automotive industry is already taking positive steps to address this issue, the recent announcement by Toyota of a solar array to provide electricity to power the hybrid Auris production facility and wind power at the Nissan Leaf plant are excellent examples of this.”
Driving Emissions: Petrol, Diesel, and Electric Compared
A typical petrol car in NSW emits about 2.4 kg of CO₂ for each litre of fuel burned. Over 150,000 km, that’s 35–40 metric tons of CO₂ just from driving. Include emissions from producing and transporting fuel, and the total jumps to 50–55 metric tons.
EVs have no tailpipe emissions. Their total carbon footprint depends on how their electricity is made. In NSW, where around 20–30% of electricity is renewable, charging an EV means fewer emissions per kilometre than a petrol car.
If your EV is charged using 100% renewable energy, its lifetime emissions can be 70–80% lower than a petrol car’s. Even now, EVs in NSW cut emissions by 40–50% compared to conventional cars.
What About Battery Production and Recycling?
Battery production is a major part of the EV carbon footprint. However, advances in recycling and cleaner manufacturing are helping.
More materials are being reused, some factories use renewable energy, and used EV batteries can be repurposed for home energy storage, further reducing waste and emissions.
How Does NSW’s Energy Grid Affect Your Car’s Footprint?
The cleaner your electricity, the cleaner your EV. NSW is moving fast toward more renewables (wind, solar, and hydro) with a goal of 50% renewable energy in five years.
Using green power or rooftop solar to charge your EV shrinks your carbon footprint even more.
Petrol, Hybrid, and Electric: Which Is Best for Emissions?
| Vehicle Type | Key Emissions Source | NSW Reduction Potential |
| Petrol/Diesel Car | Tailpipe, fuel production | Baseline |
| Plug-in Hybrid | Fuel + electricity | Intermediate |
| Electric Vehicle (EV) | Electricity, battery prod. | 17–39% lower than petrol |
How Can You Reduce Your Car’s Carbon Footprint in NSW?
- Choose a fuel-efficient or electric vehicle and check the NSW Government’s Fuel Consumption Guide to compare models.
- Use public transport, walk, bike, or car share when you can.
- Maintain your car and keep tyres properly inflated, service regularly, and drive smoothly.
- Charge smartly if you have an EV, charge during the day to use more solar energy, or choose a green energy plan.
- Drive less, combine trips, work from home if possible, and look for alternatives.
- Offset your emissions; NSW offers programs to help balance out your car’s carbon footprint.
What’s the Future of Cleaner Cars in NSW?
NSW plans for half of all new vehicles sold to be electric by 2030. The government is building more charging stations, investing in renewable energy, and developing battery recycling programs. These changes make it easier and more affordable to choose a low-emission vehicle.
Key Takeaways
- Petrol and diesel cars are major sources of CO₂ and air pollution.
- Electric vehicles, especially when charged with renewable energy, offer a cleaner alternative.
- Simple changes in how you drive and maintain your car can make a real difference.
- As NSW moves toward cleaner energy and transport, your choices today help shape a healthier environment for everyone.
For more details, visit the NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy or the Clean Energy Council’s guides to solar charging.
People Also Ask About Car Emissions in NSW
What kinds of emissions do petrol and diesel cars produce in New South Wales?
Petrol and diesel cars generate carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gas emissions through their tailpipe emissions. These vehicle emissions contribute to the overall carbon footprint of road transport in NSW, affecting air quality and climate change.
Are electric vehicles really better for reducing New South Wales’ carbon footprint?
Electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions and can reduce the carbon footprint of passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles, especially as more renewable energy is used in the local electricity mix. This makes electric cars a more environmentally friendly and efficient choice.
How does car manufacturing affect the overall environmental impact of new vehicles?
The total lifecycle emissions of new cars include manufacturing emissions, which stem from processes like battery production and the use of raw materials. Although electric vehicles have lower operational emissions, their total emissions depend on manufacturing practices and the fuel sources used for electricity.
What steps can NSW drivers take to reduce vehicle emissions?
To lower vehicle emissions, drivers can choose fuel-efficient cars, car share, opt for electric vehicles, or use public transport. Keeping vehicles well-maintained also boosts fuel efficiency and reduces both carbon dioxide and particulate matter released into the environment.
Why do lifecycle analyses matter for comparing petrol, diesel, and electric cars?
A lifecycle analysis measures all emissions from manufacturing to usage and disposal. This gives a full picture of a vehicle’s environmental impact, showing that while petrol and diesel cars release more tailpipe emissions, electric vehicles can be a greener choice as NSW’s grid gets cleaner.
Final Thoughts
Remember, you don’t have to make a big change all at once. Even small steps, like driving less, maintaining your car well, charging smarter, or opting for a more efficient model, can make a difference.
As more charging stations pop up, battery technology improves, and the grid gets cleaner, the case for electric vehicles in NSW keeps getting stronger.
Check out G4E’s resources to learn more about reducing your carbon footprint, understanding incentives, and making the switch easier and more affordable. Discover how you can drive cleaner, save money, and help NSW move toward a zero-emissions future. Every choice counts, start yours now.
