Skip to main content

Cars emit less CO2 per passenger km than buses

UK government emissions data shows that buses outside of London emit an average of 221g/km CO2e (CO2 equivalent) per passenger km compared to a small petrol car (201g/km), a small diesel car (172g/km) and a medium diesel car (215g/km). A car containing two people would obviously halve these figures. London buses, because of their higher average occupancy, fare better at 102g/km.
May 4, 2012 Read time: 1 min
UK government emissions data shows that buses outside of London emit an average of 221g/km CO2e (CO2 equivalent) per passenger km compared to a small petrol car (201g/km), a small diesel car (172g/km) and a medium diesel car (215g/km).  A car containing two people would obviously halve these figures. London buses, because of their higher average occupancy, fare better at 102g/km.

"Perhaps those who criticise lone car drivers should turn their attention to empty off-peak buses instead,” says Paul Biggs, environment spokesman at the Association of British Drivers. “Although buses provide an important public service, even London can only manage an average occupancy of around 15 passengers. Modern efficient cars outperform buses not just for CO2 emissions, but for genuine pollutants as well," Biggs adds.

Related Content

  • Set the ALARM for repairs in England and Wales
    January 10, 2019
    More than 3,900km of roads in England and Wales will need essential maintenance within the next year, according to the annual ALARM survey* Cash-strapped local governments are reporting that the gap between the funds they received and the amount they needed for repairs and maintenance was almost €639 million. This equated to an average shortfall of €3.75 million for every authority. It would take 14 years to get local roads back into a reasonable steady state, but only if adequate funds and resources wer
  • Transport under the spotlight
    February 13, 2012
    A round-up of some of the major transport-related meetings that have been held in Europe. Compiled by Patrick Smith. Europe has hosted a number of annual events over the last few weeks, where important matters of transport were discussed, reports produced, and decisions taken. ASECAP (the European Association of Tolled Motorways, Bridges and Tunnels Infrastructures Operators); International Transport Forum (ITF); Arena (TRA); International Road Federation (IRF), and the European Construction Industry Federa
  • Carbon emissions discussion
    March 22, 2012
    Smarter steps to reduce carbon emissions are being proposed by a new study from The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT). With transport accounting for nearly 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions, and at a time when governments are agreeing to move forward together on reducing emissions, CILT is calling for a balanced approach to carbon management and better assessment of the carbon impact in making transport investment choices.
  • IAM and Brake comment on increased UK road crashes
    September 24, 2015
    Both the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and road safety charity Brake have expressed serious concern over official figures showing increased road deaths in the UK. The Department of Transport’s Reported Road Casualties Great Britain: 2014 Annual Report says there were 1,775 reported road deaths in 2014, an increase of 4% compared with 2013. The IAM has called for a raft of measures to reverse the disappointing increase in numbers of people killed and injured on UK roads. It added the number of people