As the global push for electric vehicles (EVs) continues, some critics argue that they are not as environmentally friendly as they seem. While it is true that EVs have a higher carbon footprint during production due to battery manufacturing, research consistently shows that they more than make up for this over their lifetimes by emitting far less CO2 than their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts.
Sergey Paltsev, Deputy Director of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, confirms that electric vehicles offer significant climate advantages compared to gasoline-burning cars. While they may not have zero emissions as some claim, EVs consistently outperform ICE vehicles in terms of their overall environmental impact.
A major source of emissions for EVs is the production of their lithium-ion batteries. Manufacturing an 80 kWh battery found in a Tesla Model 3, for example, generates between 2.5 and 16 metric tons of CO2. Consequently, constructing a new EV can produce around 80% more emissions than building a comparable gas-powered car.
However, the majority of emissions from EVs occur during the charging process, which varies depending on the energy source used in each region. In countries like Norway, where most energy comes from hydropower, EVs have an incredibly low carbon footprint. Even in places that primarily use coal-fired power plants, EVs still perform on par with or better than gasoline cars.
MIT’s Insights Into Future Mobility study from 2019 revealed that gasoline cars emit over 350 grams of CO2 per mile driven over their lifetimes, while fully battery-electric vehicles produce just 200 grams. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, EVs create 3,932 lbs. of CO2 equivalent per year, compared to 11,435 lbs. for gasoline vehicles.
In almost every comparison, EVs fare better than ICE vehicles. Even when factoring in shorter lifespans for EVs, they still outperform both hybrids and gas cars in terms of emissions. As the world continues to transition towards renewable energy sources, the environmental benefits of EVs will only become more pronounced.
Paltsev concludes that as we decarbonize the electric grid and add cleaner energy sources, EVs will become an increasingly vital part of the climate change solution. It is essential that we recognize their long-term environmental advantages and continue to support the global shift towards electric transportation.
You can find the original source here: https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/are-electric-vehicles-definitely-better-climate-gas-powered-cars?fbclid=IwAR1ssKpv7uRk0WAEBkf4u8pXqpuN1pPUi1h1Ulg-wt5WlIOlHJ6rLBS_vo4