Sweden has Europe's most thirsty car

The newly registered cars in Sweden are efficient and emit less carbon dioxide than previously, it shows a recent survey. But compared with Europe, we are still bottom of the class.

Carbon dioxide emissions from new petrol and diesel cars in Sweden in 2008 fell by almost five percent and amounted to 173 grams per kilometer. This compares with the EU average of 158 grams (in 2007). It shows an index of new cars' carbon footprint, which today is presented by the Environmental Protection Agency, National Road Administration and the Consumer Agency.

- The high proportion of green cars help to reduce traffic impact on the climate, and gasoline and diesel cars are becoming more fuel efficient. We are still high compared to the rest of Europe, but it goes in the right direction, "says Carl Magnus Berglund, an analyst at the Consumer Agency.


Sweden has Europe's most fuel-guzzling car, and carbon dioxide emissions of new petrol and diesel cars are still among the highest. If the Swedish fleet in the long run would reduce emissions to an average of 120 grams per kilometer, which is the EU target, would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about five million tonnes, or almost eight per cent of Sweden's total greenhouse gas emissions.

Why are we so thirsty cars in Sweden?

- There is a long tradition of driving big cars in Sweden. Even if we go back to the eighties, we see that we have been at the top in terms of consumption. One explanation is that we soon got well off and were early with mass car ownership. Some blame the Volvo and Saab. But it's a bit like chicken and egg, "says Håkan Johansson, Environment Strategic Unit, SRA.

According to Håkan Johansson are no obvious differences between the densely populated cities and rural areas - to drive large cars are more to do with economics than necessary. Jämtland, for example, the most thirsty cars - along with Stockholm.

- We do not see long distances affect that we have such different vehicle fleet compared to other countries.