British automotive manufacturing plants reduced CO2 emissions by 2.8 per cent whist producing record numbers of EVs.

Renewable energy generated by manufacturers reaches 46GWh and shrunk their carbon footprint of production to its lowest level on record, reducing emissions per vehicle made last year by 2.8 per cent while at the same time producing a record-high proportion of electrified vehicles (EVs), according to the latest annual Sustainability Report by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The new research shows that the UK auto sector is continuing its commitment to UK’s leading net-zero targets. While electric vehicles require more energy to produce, manufacturers have been able to advance the carbon efficiencies of production, with 2022 CO2 output down by nearly 17,700 tonnes.

The savings were delivered in part by growth in green tariff energy use, while manufacturers themselves generated some 4.7 per cent more renewable energy than last year thanks to continued investment in on-site green infrastructure, delivering a total of 46GWh.

The UK is in a strong position, having manufactured a record number of electrified cars last year and a third (30.2 per cent) of all cars made in British factories during 2022. Demand for electrified vehicles in particular means that the average CO2 tailpipe emissions of new cars fell by 6.9 per cent. At the same time, manufacturers further streamlined their recycling and reuse, with the average amount of waste per vehicle down by more than a third (37.0 per cent).

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “Britain’s automotive industry is building record numbers of zero emission vehicles while cutting its carbon footprint to a record low. This double success has been delivered thanks to huge investments from manufacturers to decarbonise both their facilities and vehicles. As demand for electric vehicles continues to grow at home and overseas, the UK can distinguish itself as a low-carbon manufacturing nation, but this depends on critical investment in gigafactories and the affordable, renewable energy needed to power them. The sector has made huge strides in recent years but there is much more to be done.”

Recent sustainability investments in manufacturing include JLR developing a portable energy storage unit powered by second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries, Bentley Motors’ Beyond 100 strategy, Alexander Dennis focussing on efficient energy use, Michelin creating two new tyres for cars and buses with 45 per cent and 58 per cent sustainable materials respectively, Unipart using solar panels in its logistics warehouse, Leyland Trucks putting 20 electric DAF trucks into operation with public services and finally Scania’s Eurocentral site, which enables the servicing of Scania’s conventionally fuelled and electrified trucks, has been futureproofed with the installation of 950kVA of power on

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