SUVs had been 53% of EV and 83% of PHEV gross sales in 2023
They’re heavier and fewer aerodynamic—thus much less environment friendly—than automobiles
Broadly, SUVs emit 20% extra CO2 than automobiles no matter powertrain
Reflecting general business developments, most electrical autos and plug-in hybrids offered within the U.S. in 2023 had been SUVs, in accordance with the Division of Power (DOE).
By gross sales, SUVs have surpassed sedans, wagons, hatchbacks, and minivans, and final yr in addition they accounted for 53% of battery-electric automobile gross sales and 83% of plug-in hybrid gross sales. Typical automobile physique kinds nonetheless accounted for 43.4% of EV gross sales, however simply 10% of plug-in hybrid gross sales.
2023 U.S. EV and PHEV gross sales by dimension class (through U.S. Division of Power)
SUVs are typically heavier and fewer aerodynamic than automobiles, which impacts effectivity of internal-combustion and electrical powertrains alike. That is led to differing analyses of the comparatively excessive variety of plug-in SUV gross sales.
The DOE has a reasonably optimistic outlook, saying in September {that a} small electrical SUV with 300 miles of vary is estimated to have half the lifetime greenhouse fuel emissions of a comparable gasoline automobile. In 2021 it stated that well-liked small SUVs had been a meaningfully better option than bigger fashions by way of general emissions—and that EVs and plug-in hybrids had been higher nonetheless.
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Nevertheless, the Worldwide Power Company (IEA) stated earlier this yr that SUVs emit 20% extra CO2 in comparison with automobiles, no matter powertrain sort. The IEA additionally warned in 2023 that the SUV market is fueling international oil demand, countering among the emissions reductions one may hope to see from greater EV adoption.
When evaluating electrical SUVs to gasoline SUVs, although, electrical autos a minimum of have the benefit of getting cleaner over their helpful life as extra renewable vitality is used to energy the grid. And whereas emissions from electrical energy manufacturing and distribution are at the moment double that of the equal emissions for gasoline, that is greater than offset by the tailpipe emissions of gasoline autos, which symbolize almost three quarters of their whole lifecycle emissions, the DOE beforehand famous.
