Green NCAP Gives the Berlin-Built Model Y Five Stars and the Lowest Lifecycle CO2 It Has Measured

Green NCAP, the independent programme that rates cars on their environmental impact, has given the Berlin-built Tesla Model Y its maximum five-star Sustainability Rating, with an overall score of 93%. It published the result on 29 October 2026, in a round that also rated the BYD Dolphin Surf, the Suzuki e Vitara, a diesel Volkswagen Golf and the Volkswagen Tayron. Green NCAP notes that the Model Y is Europe's best-selling electric car, bought by 150,000 European drivers last year.

What sets this rating apart is the data behind it. Green NCAP normally estimates a car's production emissions from generic assumptions. For the Model Y, Tesla supplied its own vehicle and battery manufacturing data, which Green NCAP's experts reviewed. Green NCAP concludes that the steps Tesla has taken to cut the climate impact of building the car and its battery are effective.

The scores

The headline figure is lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions of 95 g of CO2 equivalent per kilometre, covering raw materials, manufacturing in Germany, distribution and driving. Green NCAP says this is the lowest value it has published so far, well below the 110 g needed for full marks. The Volkswagen Tayron, a similarly sized petrol mild-hybrid SUV tested in the same round, emits 263 g over its life and gets two and a half stars (41%).

The Model Y was not the top scorer of the round. The smaller BYD Dolphin Surf reached 96%, even though Green NCAP assessed its production in China with generic data.

Efficiency, heating and charging

The full assessment records 13.1 kWh/100 km in the laboratory WLTP cycle and 21.3 kWh/100 km in Green NCAP's highway test. The winter cold-start test at −7°C took 30.5 kWh/100 km, which Green NCAP puts down to how quickly the cabin heats up. A mixed on-road drive in 35°C summer heat used 15.2 kWh/100 km.

Green NCAP estimates a real-world range of 449 km in mixed driving in warm weather and 274 km in a cold winter, against a declared 534 km. Pre-warming the car before a winter trip adds 101 km of range on a mixed trip and 136 km on an urban one. The Model Y is one of only two cars that Green NCAP has rated "good" for both consumption and range and cold-weather performance.

On a fast charger the car went from 10 to 80% in 24 minutes, and at home it charges at up to 11 kW with 89% efficiency. Its weak point is bidirectional charging. The current Model Y cannot supply power to devices, a house or the grid, which Green NCAP rates poor.

Same day, different test

The rating came on the same day that Germany's ADAC ranked the Model Y Performance last in a comparison with three new 800-volt SUVs, mainly on range and charging speed. They are different tests of different versions. Green NCAP tested the single-motor rear-wheel-drive Model Y under its own protocol, while ADAC tested the dual-motor Performance, which took 35 minutes to charge from 10 to 80%.