SUVs account for over 25% of the global oil demand & 20% of CO2 emissions: Report

RahulNagaraj · 30th May 2024, 17:11

According to a new study, the ever-growing popularity of SUVs has resulted in them accounting for over a quarter of the annual global oil demand while also adding 20% in energy-related CO2 emissions.

SUVs account for over 25% of the global oil demand & 20% of CO2 emissions: Report-suv.jpg

As per the International Energy Agency (IEA), sports utility vehicles, which are known to be heavier and less fuel efficient than smaller vehicles, accounted for 48% of global car sales in 2023 - up from 20.58% in 2013. The IEA stated, "Over the course of 2022 and 2023, global oil consumption directly related to SUVs rose by a total of over 600,000 barrels per day, accounting for more than a quarter of the overall annual growth in oil demand."

Talking about emissions, the report also mentioned how the 360 million SUVs around the world resulted in 1 billion tons of combustion-related CO2 emissions - an increase of 100 million tons compared to 2022.

The IEA mentioned, "If SUVs were a country, they would be the world’s fifth-largest emitter of CO2", behind China, USA, India & Russia.

The report also stated that preference for SUVs is also seen among electric car sales. However, currently, only a small 5% of SUVs on the roads are electric. Globally, 45% of all electric cars sold are SUVs, 55% in advanced economies. However, they also pose a challenge due to the increased use of critical minerals required in their larger batteries.

Source: Bloomberg

Link to Team-BHP news

GForceEnjoyer · 30th May 2024, 17:32

Interesting news. As more cars on the road are now SUVs, won't we see their contribution to oil demand rise regardless of each model's individual fuel consumption?

It would help to be able to express driving SUVs as a percentage of global oil-consuming activities to compare with this 25% statistic. The same goes for the 20% CO2 emissions figure; first expressing SUVs as a percentage of all CO2 emitters would paint a much more accurate picture.

Doing the same for all body-types can then allow for a proper comparison of which is the most environmentally friendly (or not).

ZenMaster · 30th May 2024, 18:39

So what's responsible for the remaining 80%?

CentreOfGravity · 30th May 2024, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by GForceEnjoyer

As more cars on the road are now SUVs, won't we see their contribution to oil demand rise...

Why bother? The "SUVs" you mentioned are jacked-up hatchbacks in reality, plying as SUVs on the road

. Sheep in wolves' clothing.

Pardon the terrible (fact presented as a) joke. On a serious note, this is a cause of concern and very disheartening. Reaffirms my belief that sedans are superior.

Fuldagap · 30th May 2024, 19:29

All the more reason to bring more and more SUVs into the market. They can help exhaust the oil reserves with major contribution. Once the oil reserves vanish, we'll see cleaner sources of energy rise up and the problem of CO2 go away.

Govts can also use this SUV excuse to extort more from tax payers.

SmartCat · 30th May 2024, 19:33

This is super confusing. I think IEA is saying SUVs account for 25% of oil demand growth & 20% of CO2 emissions growth.

For eg:

Let's assume oil demand in 2022 was 10 million barrels & 2023 was 11 million barrels. So here, there was a growth/increase of 1 million barrels. Now here, SUVs accounted for 25% of this growth. That is, 250k barrels of oil consumption increase was due to rising SUV sales.

Ditto with CO2 emissions growth & SUV contribution.

The remaning growth in oil consumption/emissions would have come from other cars, commerical vehicles, aircraft, ships, power production etc.

30th May 2024, 17:11	#1
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,499 Thanked: 23,797 Times	SUVs account for over 25% of the global oil demand & 20% of CO2 emissions: Report According to a new study, the ever-growing popularity of SUVs has resulted in them accounting for over a quarter of the annual global oil demand while also adding 20% in energy-related CO2 emissions. As per the International Energy Agency (IEA), sports utility vehicles, which are known to be heavier and less fuel efficient than smaller vehicles, accounted for 48% of global car sales in 2023 - up from 20.58% in 2013. The IEA stated, "Over the course of 2022 and 2023, global oil consumption directly related to SUVs rose by a total of over 600,000 barrels per day, accounting for more than a quarter of the overall annual growth in oil demand." Talking about emissions, the report also mentioned how the 360 million SUVs around the world resulted in 1 billion tons of combustion-related CO2 emissions - an increase of 100 million tons compared to 2022. The IEA mentioned, "If SUVs were a country, they would be the world’s fifth-largest emitter of CO2", behind China, USA, India & Russia. The report also stated that preference for SUVs is also seen among electric car sales. However, currently, only a small 5% of SUVs on the roads are electric. Globally, 45% of all electric cars sold are SUVs, 55% in advanced economies. However, they also pose a challenge due to the increased use of critical minerals required in their larger batteries. Source: Bloomberg Link to Team-BHP news
	(4) Thanks

30th May 2024, 17:32	#2
GForceEnjoyer BHPian Join Date: May 2022 Location: TS 07 <-> HR 10 Posts: 484 Thanked: 3,371 Times View My Garage	Re: SUVs account for over 25% of the global oil demand & 20% of CO2 emissions: Report Interesting news. As more cars on the road are now SUVs, won't we see their contribution to oil demand rise regardless of each model's individual fuel consumption? It would help to be able to express driving SUVs as a percentage of global oil-consuming activities to compare with this 25% statistic. The same goes for the 20% CO2 emissions figure; first expressing SUVs as a percentage of all CO2 emitters would paint a much more accurate picture. Doing the same for all body-types can then allow for a proper comparison of which is the most environmentally friendly (or not). Last edited by GForceEnjoyer : 30th May 2024 at 17:39.
	(9) Thanks

30th May 2024, 18:39	#3
ZenMaster BHPian Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Kottayam Posts: 510 Thanked: 2,110 Times	Re: SUVs account for over 25% of the global oil demand & 20% of CO2 emissions: Report So what's responsible for the remaining 80%?
	(3) Thanks

30th May 2024, 19:29	#5
Fuldagap BHPian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: -- Posts: 318 Thanked: 2,145 Times	Re: SUVs account for over 25% of the global oil demand & 20% of CO2 emissions: Report All the more reason to bring more and more SUVs into the market. They can help exhaust the oil reserves with major contribution. Once the oil reserves vanish, we'll see cleaner sources of energy rise up and the problem of CO2 go away. Govts can also use this SUV excuse to extort more from tax payers.
	() Thanks

30th May 2024, 19:33	#6
SmartCat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,864 Thanked: 48,188 Times View My Garage	Re: SUVs account for over 25% of the global oil demand & 20% of CO2 emissions: Report This is super confusing. I think IEA is saying SUVs account for 25% of oil demand growth & 20% of CO2 emissions growth. For eg: Let's assume oil demand in 2022 was 10 million barrels & 2023 was 11 million barrels. So here, there was a growth/increase of 1 million barrels. Now here, SUVs accounted for 25% of this growth. That is, 250k barrels of oil consumption increase was due to rising SUV sales. Ditto with CO2 emissions growth & SUV contribution. The remaning growth in oil consumption/emissions would have come from other cars, commerical vehicles, aircraft, ships, power production etc.
	(3) Thanks