It is a false assumption that vintage cars cause a lot of damage. In fact, because they drive so few kilometers a year, they are better than electric cars.
A study shows that vintage cars can be less harmful to the environment than electric cars when CO2 emissions during production are taken into account.
The study, conducted by insurance company Footman & James, shows that an average vintage car in the UK emits 563 kilograms of CO2 annually when driven 1,900 kilometers.
In comparison, a modern electric car like the Polestar 2 emits 26 tons of CO2 during production, according to the manufacturer. This figure corresponds to 46 years of driving in a vintage car.
Although modern cars emit less CO2 during production, the production of electric cars is a significant source of CO2 emissions. A Volkswagen Golf, for example, emits 6.8 tons of CO2 during production.
– It's easy to assume that classic cars are more harmful simply because of their older and less efficient engines.
"But the data in this report refutes that theory," says David Bond, chief executive of Footman James.
He points out that it's about how the cars are maintained and used.
– It is clear that while new modern and electric cars can perform better for the planet in everyday life, the issue is how much impact their production causes, says David Bond.
The study shows thatvintage cars that are driven in limited numbers can have a smaller CO2 footprint than electric cars, when taking into account the production phase.
However, car manufacturers are working to reduce CO2 emissions during production. Polestar, for example, has a goal of producing CO2-neutral cars from 2030.
Until then, owners of vintage cars can perhaps take some comfort in the fact that their classics are not necessarily the biggest CO2 culprits. Nevertheless, the Danish government has decided to make vintage cars much more expensive to own. Read more about it here .
However, it is important to remember that the study only takes into account CO2 emissions and not other harmful emissions from the cars.
