Taking a Ride Through NRW: The Cleanest and Dirtiest Cars on the Road
Cars of varying cleanliness and dirtiness traverse the roads of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) - In North Rhine-Westphalia, a mix of clean and filthy vehicles can be spotted on the roads.
Curious about the emissions profile of cars in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)? The diversity of vehicles with varying emission standards varies among the registration districts, running from nearly a third to one in five, reveals an analysis by the German Press Agency based on data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). The cleanest and dirtiest cars also show significant differences.
NRW houses the highest proportion of vehicles registered under the old and less stringent exhaust standards Euro 1 to Euro 4, as per KBA data, in the city of Duisburg, where it stands at 30.7%. Gelsenkirchen and Herne also post values above 30%. Following them are Hamm and the districts of Minden-Lübbecke (29.3%) and Lippe (28.5%). Nationwide, Duisburg ranks third in this category.
Cleanest Rides: Wolfsburg Tops the List Nationwide
At the opposite end of the scale in NRW, Euskirchen district is home to 20.1%, followed by Düsseldorf (21.3%) and the districts of Siegen-Wittgenstein (21.6%) and Olpe (21.7%). In terms of the cleanest vehicles, considering the proportion of pure electric cars and vehicles adhering to the relatively new emissions standard Euro 6, the district of Euskirchen boasts 60.8%, with Düsseldorf at 60.1%. Bochum and the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein follow closely with 56.7% and 56.4%, respectively.
Across Germany, Wolfsburg takes the lead with particularly clean cars at 77.2%. As the base of a prominent automaker, the city enjoys an advantage in new vehicle registrations, which skews the statistics in favor of cleaner vehicles. Keep in mind, some of these self-registered or company cars may not be primarily driven in the district where they are registered, as seen in Wolfsburg as the automaker's hometown. Statistics indicate a staggering 973 cars per 1,000 residents reside in Wolfsburg — that's more than one car per adult.
- Auto
- NRW
- Exhaust Emissions
- Düsseldorf
- Wolfsburg
- Exhaust Technology
- KBA
- Duisburg
- Flensburg
- Euskirchen
- Siegen-Wittgenstein
- German Press Agency
- Gelsenkirchen
- Herne
While a central, publicly accessible dataset detailing exhaust emissions for all cars registered in NRW does not exist, it's possible to infer trends and analysis for reducing emissions by evaluating available reports, mobility projects, and city initiatives.
Emissions Distribution: The Big Picture
- Car Types and Emissions
- Conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicles: These constitute the majority, particularly older models, generating higher levels of pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Hydrogen Vehicles: These alternatives—especially in city fleets and public transport—are expanding rapidly, with zero emissions at the point of use.
- Diesel Vehicles: These remain prevalent but are being phased out in public transport and municipal fleets in favor of cleaner options.
- Cleanest Vehicles
- Electric Buses: Operators such as Wupsi in Leverkusen and other cities in NRW are introducing or expanding zero-emission bus fleets.
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses: Rheinbahn in Düsseldorf and WestVerkehr in the region are deploying hydrogen buses, with plans to add more by the end of 2025.
- Urban Centers and Districts with Strong Public Transport Initiatives: Cities like Düsseldorf, Leverkusen, and Cologne are pushing electric and hydrogen vehicles in public transport, supported by state and federal funding.
- Dirtiest Vehicles
- Areas with a Higher Proportion of Older Diesel and Petrol Vehicles: Rural districts and smaller towns, often lagging behind in terms of investment in zero-emission public transport infrastructure, have a higher concentration of older, higher-emitting vehicles.
- Areas with Less Investment in Clean Mobility: Regions where private cars dominate and public transport is less developed tend to have higher overall emissions from transportation.
Cities and Districts with the Cleanest and Dirtiest Vehicles
- Cleanest Vehicle Profiles
- Düsseldorf: Committed to zero-emission public transport through hydrogen and electric buses and new high-capacity hydrogen refueling stations.
- Leverkusen: Transitioning to zero-emission public transport with electric and hydrogen buses, backed by state and federal funding for infrastructure.
- Cologne: Similar initiatives in bus electrification and infrastructure upgrades, with strong support from the NRW state.
- Dirtiest Vehicle Profiles
- Rural Districts and Smaller Towns: Examples include parts of the Sauerland, Münsterland, or Eifel region, with less frequent public transport and higher reliance on private vehicles.
- Areas with Limited Investment in Clean Mobility: These districts may trail behind when it comes to hydrogen and electric vehicle infrastructure, having a higher share of diesel and older petrol cars.
Policy Context
- North Rhine-Westphalia is dedicated to reducing transport emissions, advocating for a shift to electric and hydrogen vehicles in public transport and fleets, with high support rates for infrastructure upgrades.
- Funding and Infrastructure: The state and federal government are offering significant support for battery and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, aiming for carbon neutrality in public transport by 2035 in cities like Düsseldorf.
Summary Table
| Region/City | Emission Profile | Key Initiatives/Notes ||--------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------|| Düsseldorf | Cleanest (Zero-emission buses) | Hydrogen refueling, electric buses[2] || Leverkusen | Cleanest (Electric/hydrogen) | Zero-emission buses, charging infra[5] || Cologne | Cleanest (Electric buses) | Fleet electrification || Rural Districts | Dirtiest (Older ICE vehicles) | Less public transport, older vehicles |
In summary, urban centers in NRW with strong public transport electrification and hydrogen strategies (e.g., Düsseldorf, Leverkusen, Cologne) boast the cleanest vehicle profiles. Rural districts and smaller towns, with less investment in clean mobility, usually have the dirtiest vehicle emission levels due to a higher share of older diesel and petrol cars. Although exhaust emission distributions are not disclosed, the table is indicative of the ongoing trends and policy directions in reducing vehicle emissions.
- The community policy in NRW prioritizes reducing transport emissions, supporting a transition to electric and hydrogen vehicles in public transport and fleets, with high support rates for infrastructure upgrades.
- Financial policy in North Rhine-Westphalia includes significant funding from the state and federal government for battery and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, aiming for carbon neutrality in public transport by 2035 in cities like Düsseldorf.
As for the employment policies, we can suggest potential initiatives:
- Environmental-science professionals can be employed to monitor and analyze exhaust emissions data, develop research projects to improve vehicle emissions, and guide mobility projects in reducing emissions.
- Technology specialists can focus on the development of electric and hydrogen vehicle technologies, battery research, and infrastructure facilities.
- In the finance sector, experts can help secure funding for clean mobility projects and infrastructure development, as well as provide economic analyses and impact evaluations of these initiatives.
