Transport is responsible for about 21% of New South Wales’ greenhouse gas emissions, and road transport — the cars, utes and trucks on our streets — makes up roughly 89% of that. In other words, when you ask how much of Sydney’s emissions come from cars, the honest answer is: a very large slice. Driving is one of the single biggest contributors to the state’s carbon footprint, and unlike the electricity grid, it has been stubbornly slow to clean up. The good news is that the fix for a huge share of it fits in a bike lane.
How much of Sydney’s carbon footprint comes from cars?
Transport accounts for around 21% of NSW greenhouse gas emissions, according to the NSW State of the Environment 2024 report. Of that transport total, road vehicles produce about 89% — so private cars and freight on Sydney’s roads dominate the picture. Nationally the story rhymes: the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water reports that passenger cars and light commercial vehicles alone make up around 60% of transport emissions and more than 10% of Australia’s entire emissions. Sydney, sprawling and car-reliant, sits right at the centre of that habit.
Why short car trips are the worst offenders
Here is the part that matters most for everyday Sydney: the shortest trips are the least efficient. A cold engine burns extra fuel for the first few kilometres before it reaches efficient operating temperature, so a 3 km dash to the shops emits far more per kilometre than a long highway run. Stack that on top of a fleet that keeps getting heavier — Australia now buys more large SUVs and dual-cab utes than small cars — and every short suburban errand carries an outsized carbon cost. These are exactly the trips an e-bike swallows without breaking a sweat: the school pick-up, the grocery run, the ride to the station. Replace one of those a day and the maths adds up fast.
E-bike vs car: how big is the emissions gap?
It is not close. Widely cited European lifecycle estimates put a bicycle at roughly 5 g of CO₂e per passenger-kilometre, an e-bike at about 25 g, a city bus at 110 g, and a car at around 240 g — figures summarised in this Stanford review of cycling versus driving emissions. That includes manufacturing, charging and disposal, not just the ride. When an e-bike replaces a short car trip, you are looking at roughly a 90% cut in emissions per kilometre — and because the electricity to charge an e-bike is a tiny fraction of what a car burns, the gap only widens as the grid gets greener. For a deeper look at why heavy vehicles are such a poor fit for short Sydney trips, see our piece on why short Sydney trips belong on an e-bike, not a two-tonne car.
Can an e-bike really replace a car in Sydney?
For a lot of trips, yes. In NSW, pedal-assist e-bikes are treated as bicycles — no registration, licence or insurance required — with the motor assistance easing off once you hit 25 km/h. That keeps them legal on cycleways and shared paths (helmets are mandatory, and you keep left and go easy around walkers). A capable commuter like the Cyberbikes Centauro is built for the job: a 250W rear hub motor, a 48V 25Ah (1,200Wh) Samsung battery for long-range days, a step-through frame and a 150kg load rating that handles cargo and the weekly shop. Priced at $4,249, it is a serious car-replacement tool — not a toy. We build and service every one at Cyberbikes in Leichhardt, so you can test-ride the exact bike before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of NSW emissions come from transport?
Transport makes up about 21% of NSW’s greenhouse gas emissions, and road transport accounts for roughly 89% of that transport total, according to the NSW State of the Environment 2024 report. Cars and light vehicles are the dominant road-transport source.
How much less does an e-bike emit than a car?
Over their full lifecycle, e-bikes emit roughly 25 g of CO₂e per passenger-kilometre versus about 240 g for a car — around a 90% reduction when an e-bike replaces a short car trip. Most of an e-bike’s footprint is manufacturing, so the more you ride, the lower the per-kilometre impact.
Are e-bikes legal to ride without a licence in Sydney?
Yes. In NSW, pedal-assist e-bikes are classed as bicycles, so they need no registration, licence or insurance. The motor must stop assisting at 25 km/h, and helmets are mandatory. That makes an e-bike one of the simplest low-emission ways to get around Sydney.
Swap one car trip a week for an e-bike ride and see what changes — for your wallet and Sydney’s air. If you’re ready to be part of a car-lighter city, come see us at Cyberbikes, 281 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt.
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