2023 transport, energy, and environment statistics released

The government has recently updated their transport, energy, and environment statistics for 2024. Their 2024 update now includes data from 2023 on transport, emissions, and electric vehicles.

In 2023, one per cent of transport energy consumption was done by electric road vehicles, which consumed 0.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent to (Mtoe), and vehicles that used renewable fuels consumed 2.6Mtoe, making up five per cent of that year’s transport energy consumption. 

This stands in comparison to petroleum road vehicles, which was 65 per cent of energy consumption at 35.2Mtoe. This is a one per cent decrease from 2022 and an eight per cent decrease since 2013. By contrast, renewable fuels in road vehicles have increased by 136 per cent, whereas electricity as a road fuel has increased by 18,680 per cent in the last decade, reflecting the rising commercial interest in electric vehicles (EVs).

Another dataset from the government shows figures on greenhouse gas emissions (million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) by transport mode in the UK from 1990 to 2022. Although between 2021 and 2022 greenhouse gas emission increased four per cent for domestic cars and taxis, it decreased by five per cent in heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). 

Over a decade, the change is much more significant, perhaps reflecting more widespread attempts at decarbonising fleets. Greenhouse gas emissions from domestic cars and taxis decreased by 15 per cent from 2012 to 2022, and by 17 per cent from 1990 to 2022.

For further statistics and data on transport, energy, and environment, please see the government website.