- SUVs accounted for 53% of EV and 83% of PHEV sales by 2023
- They are heavier and less aerodynamic – thus less efficient – than cars
- In general, SUVs emit 20% more CO2 than cars regardless of powertrain
Reflecting overall industry trends, the majority of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids sold in the US by 2023 were SUVs, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
In terms of sales, SUVs have surpassed sedans, wagons, hatchbacks, and minivans, and last year they were also listed 53% of battery-electric vehicle sales again 83% of plug-in hybrid sales. Standard vehicle body styles still account for 43.4% of EV sales, but just 10% of combined plug-in sales.
2023 US EV and PHEV sales by size category (via US Department of Energy)
SUVs in general heavy and slightly aerodynamic than cars, affecting the efficiency of internal combustion and electric vehicles alike. That led to a different analysis of the high sales volume of the plug-in SUV.
The DOE has a pretty good idea, saying in September that a small electric SUV with a range of 300 kilometers is estimated to half of lifetime greenhouse gas emissions of the same gasoline vehicle. In 2021 it said popular small SUVs were a better choice than larger models in terms of emissions – and that EVs and plug-in hybrids were still better.
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E
However, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said earlier this year that SUVs emit 20% more CO2 compared to cars, regardless of the type of powertrain. The IEA also warned in 2023 that the SUV market is fueling global oil demand, countering the emissions reductions one might hope to see from high-end EV adoption.
However, when you compare electric SUVs with gasoline SUVs, electric vehicles at least have the advantage of being clean over their useful life as more renewable energy is used to power the grid. And while emissions from electricity production and distribution are currently double those of the same fuel, that's more than reducing the tailpipe emissions of gasoline vehicles, which represent about three-quarters of their total life-cycle emissions, the DOE previously noted.