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Compare the carbon footprint of cycling (including e-bikes) versus driving a car. See how much CO2 you save by pedalling.
Cycling produces approximately 5 g CO2 per km (lifecycle, including food energy and bicycle manufacturing), compared to 120–270 g for a car. E-bikes produce about 8–10 g/km. Switching a 10 km daily car commute to cycling saves roughly 500–700 kg CO2 per year.
24
kg CO2/year
0.1 kg CO2/day
43
kg CO2/year
0.18 kg CO2/day
1,301
kg CO2/year
5.42 kg CO2/day
Technically, yes — but it's minuscule. The lifecycle carbon footprint of cycling includes the energy used to manufacture the bicycle (~100 kg CO2 spread over its lifetime), the slightly increased food intake needed for cycling calories, and any maintenance. This adds up to about 5 g CO2 per km — roughly 30–50x less than driving a car.
E-bikes produce about 8–10 g CO2 per km, slightly more than a regular bicycle due to battery charging and manufacturing. But they make cycling viable for longer commutes (15–30 km) and hilly terrain, displacing car trips that would otherwise produce 170–270 g CO2/km. The net carbon saving is enormous.
The ranking often changes with trip distance, occupancy, and fuel or grid intensity. A solo trip may favor one option, while shared travel can shift the result substantially. This page compares Bicycle, E-Bike, Car (Petrol) so you can quickly identify which variables drive the largest changes.
Covers practical follow-up questions readers often ask
Use our travel calculator to get a personalized carbon footprint estimate based on your specific habits and location.
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