- SUVs have 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 traits, most electrical automobiles and plug-in hybrids offered within the U.S. in 2023 have been SUVs, in keeping with the Division of Vitality (DOE).
By gross sales, SUVs have surpassed sedans, wagons, hatchbacks, and minivans, and final 12 months in addition they accounted for 53% of battery-electric automobile gross sales and 83% of plug-in hybrid gross sales. Typical automotive physique types 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 measurement class (through U.S. Division of Vitality)
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 constructive 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 standard small SUVs have been a meaningfully better option than bigger fashions when it comes to general emissions—and that EVs and plug-in hybrids have been higher nonetheless.
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Nonetheless, the Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA) stated earlier this 12 months 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 a few of the emissions reductions one would possibly hope to see from greater EV adoption.
When evaluating electrical SUVs to gasoline SUVs, although, electrical automobiles at the least 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 automobiles, which symbolize almost three quarters of their whole lifecycle emissions, the DOE beforehand famous.
