Road transport is central to the climate challenge because it relies overwhelmingly on oil-based fuels. Passenger cars account for the largest share of road emissions, so progress with cars strongly influences the trajectory of total transport emissions (International Energy Agency [IEA], 2024). The goal is not only to use less fossil fuel, but also to change how energy is supplied and how vehicles are designed and driven.

Electrification is the most powerful lever for light-duty vehicles. When charged on power systems that increasingly include wind and solar, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) deliver substantially lower life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than comparable gasoline models. This advantage grows as grids decarbonize and as battery production becomes more efficient (International Council on Clean Transportation [ICCT], 2025; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2023).

Efficiency remains essential for the large fleet already on the road. Lower rolling-resistance tires, improved aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and stricter fuel-economy or CO₂ performance standards reduce fuel use per kilometer for internal-combustion engine vehicles and hybrids. Routine maintenance, such as correct tire pressure and timely servicing, also cuts emissions at very low cost (IEA, 2024).

How we operate vehicles matters every day. Eco-driving techniques that smooth acceleration and braking, keep steady speeds, and avoid unnecessary idling reduce fuel consumption without new hardware. Trip planning and navigation that steer drivers around congestion have similar effects. At the system level, reliable home and workplace charging, fair parking policies, and safe cycling and public transport options help people choose lower-carbon travel without losing mobility (IEA, 2024).

For heavier vehicles and commercial fleets, zero-emission technologies are advancing quickly in urban delivery and regional haul, while multiple options are being tested for long-distance routes. In the near term, telematics and driver-assistance systems can improve routing and behavior, yielding measurable savings while the fleet turns over (IPCC, 2023; IEA, 2024).

In combination, these measures form a practical package: accelerate BEV adoption and clean-power deployment; raise vehicle efficiency; operate smarter; and shift short trips where feasible to public transport and active modes. Together, they deliver fast, durable reductions in transport-related warming while also improving urban air quality and lowering operating costs (IEA, 2024; ICCT, 2025).

References:

1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2023). Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report.
2. International Council on Clean Transportation. (2025). Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars in the European Union.
3. International Energy Agency. (2024). CO₂ Emissions in 2023.