The size and weight of a car are a factor not to be underestimated when evaluating theenvironmental impact of the vehicle: the confirmation comes from a new Green NCAP report which, after introducing a new mechanism for testing cars based on the product life cycle during 2022, is now taking stock of the results obtained during the tests carried out last year. Among the results that emerge from the survey is theissue” represented by tendency of the automotive market to offer ever larger and heavier cars. This type of vehicle has in fact a higher consumption (of fuel or electricity, depending on the engine used) as well as a greater environmental impact linked to the production process.

HEAVY-DUTY CARS HAVE A GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: THE GREEN NCAP REPORT

The new Green NCAP report highlights one of the current issues in the four-wheeled vehicle market. The sector is increasingly geared towards electrification, despite doubts about whether ICE cars will stop selling in the EU from 2035. The emissions reduction target faces a variety of issues. In the meantime, however, the Green NCAP study clearly shows the “issue” represented byincreased size and weight of cars. Net of parameters such as engine efficiency and aerodynamic efficiency (which play an important role in determining environmental impact), Green NCAP reveals a clear trend for the automotive sector. The biggest and heaviest cars they present a significantly above average impactall other things being equal, requiring more energy throughout its life cycle.

WHAT THE GREEN NCAP THINKS ABOUT CAR SIZES

To expose the thought of Green NCAP in this matter is the technical director, Aleksandar Damyanovwhich states:Electric vehicles and electrification in general offer enormous potential for reducing greenhouse gases, but the growing trend of heavier vehicles is reducing this prospect. To counter this, Green NCAP calls on automakers to reduce the mass of their products and urges consumers to make purchasing decisions that consider not only the powertrain of their new cars, but also their weight.

GREEN NCAP REPORT DATA ON CAR SIZE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

IDSee the attached graphics in the gallery below clearly show the evidence that emerged from the Green NCAP report. The electric and hybrid/plug-in hybrid groups as well as the petrol/diesel/ethanol group tested by Green NCAP in 2022 show the impact of the mass and size of a car on the environment. Both in terms of energy consumed what about greenhouse gas emissionsindeed, we notice how, with the same technology used for the engine, the iThe environmental impact is greater for large cars. In particular, data relating to electric cars is of interest, where the impact of vehicle mass is evident. Electric cars with large dimensions and, therefore, with significant weight have to deal with environmental sustainability, throughout the life cycle, which is significantly lower than compact and light electric cars. It’s no coincidence that Green NCAP’s best car of 2022 was the “little one” Dacha Spring3.73 meters long and with a total mass of less than 1,000 kilograms.

THE AVERAGE WEIGHT OF CARS CONTINUES TO INCREASE: A PROBLEM FOR THE FUTURE?

Green NCAP underlines how for ten years, on the European market, the average weight of vehicles sold increased by +9%. On average, cars therefore weigh 100 kilograms more. This increase is related to an increase in size and bulk, not only in length but also in width and height. The confirmation comes from the data relating to sales of compact SUVs, become the best-selling vehicles in Europe in 2022 with 4 million units shipped. Compact SUV sales increased 4x and large SUV sales increased 7x.

THE IMPACT OF INCREASED WEIGHT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

In its report, Green NCAP correlates the increase in size and weight of cars with increased environmental impact, quantifying this data. I’average weight gain of 100 kilogramsaccording to Green NCAP, results in approximately 1.4 tonnes increase in greenhouse gas emissions and of 5.7 MWh of electricity consumed. These data therefore reduce the effectiveness of the electrification program which has the ultimate goal of eliminating the impact of cars on the environment, at least with regard to direct emissions. Larger and heavier cars inevitably mean an increase in the environmental impact of the four-wheel sector.