EVs outperform gasoline cars in lifetime CO₂ emissions after two years
Study finds EVs reduce cumulative CO₂ emissions after two years, outperforming gasoline cars in lifetime environmental impact.
Why it matters
- EVs have a lower lifetime environmental impact compared to gasoline cars, particularly in terms of CO₂ emissions.
By the numbers
- Each additional kWh of lithium-ion battery output leads to an average reduction of 220 kg of CO₂ in 2030 and 127 kg of CO₂ in 2050.
- BEVs have 30% higher CO₂ emissions than ICE vehicles during the first two years, but this reverses after the second year.
The big picture
- The economic value of damages attributable to ICEs over their lifetime is currently 2 to 3.5 times that of BEVs.
What they're saying
- Concerns about tire wear and microplastics pollution due to the heavier weight of EVs.
- Potential biases due to funding from a company involved in lithium battery production.
- Exclusion of end-of-life emissions and heavy metals pollution from the study.
Caveats
- Study funded by Albemarle Corporation, a producer of materials for lithium batteries.
- End-of-life emissions and heavy metals pollution from mining were excluded from the study.
What’s next
- Further research could address the excluded factors and explore the long-term impacts of widespread EV adoption.