How the estimate works
Making a vehicle releases CO₂ in steel, aluminium, plastics, glass and assembly. A common rule of thumb is about 5 kg of CO₂ for every kg the vehicle weighs. Electric vehicles add their battery, at roughly 75 kg CO₂ per kWh of capacity.
Choose a vehicle type, or type in the kerb weight and battery size from your model's brochure for a closer estimate.
EV vs petrol
An electric car usually starts life with a higher carbon debt because of its battery. It pays this back through lower running emissions over the years, more quickly as India's grid gets cleaner.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does it take to make a car?
A small hatchback is roughly 4 tonnes and a large SUV about 10 tonnes. An electric compact SUV with a 45 kWh battery is about 10 tonnes.
Why are exact model figures not shown?
Manufacturers rarely publish them, and figures vary by plant and supplier. Weight-based estimates are the standard approach when no data is published.
Does this include fuel used while driving?
No. Use the CO₂ emission calculator for petrol, diesel and charging.
Sources
- ICCT ↗ – vehicle life-cycle emissions research
- ICE embodied carbon database (Circular Ecology) ↗ – carbon per kg of each material