Electric Vehicles (EVs) outshine conventional combustion engine cars in terms of eco-friendliness, here's why.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) outshine conventional combustion engine cars in terms of eco-friendliness, here's why.

In major markets accounting for 70% of global new passenger car sales, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are associated with far fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) over their lifetimes.

A recent study reveals that BEVs, such as those built in 2024, produce roughly 70% lower lifecycle GHG emissions than ICEVs, with this advantage increasing as electric grids become cleaner and battery technologies advance.

Key points in comparing BEVs and ICEVs lifecycle emissions:

• Emission distribution differs: For BEVs, about 70% of emissions come from well-to-tank sources (electricity generation and transmission); for ICEVs, about 70% arise from tailpipe emissions during operation.
• Manufacturing impact: BEV production emissions are higher (up to 40% more) due to battery manufacturing but are offset after relatively low driving usage (~17,000 km).
• Market variation: In the U.S., BEVs are currently estimated to emit 71% less GHG than ICEVs over the vehicle lifetime, projected to improve to 77% less by 2030 with cleaner grids. In Europe, the lifecycle GHG reduction for BEVs reaches about 73%, boosted by rapid renewable energy deployment. In China, BEVs report about 29% lower lifecycle emissions due to the still coal-heavy grid but with expected improvements as grids improve.
• Grid decarbonization effect: As electricity generation relies more on renewables, BEV lifecycle emissions drop substantially. For example, with increasingly clean European grids (expected 56% renewables in 2025, rising to 86% by 2045), BEVs will become even greener.
• Battery advancements: Improvements in battery manufacturing energy efficiency and recycling technologies reduce the initial production emissions, enhancing overall BEV environmental benefits.
• Recycling role: Recycling plays a critical role in reducing the need for new mining because it recovers battery materials and cuts down on emissions associated with producing a new battery.
• Battery lifetime extension: Battery lifetimes can be extended through reuse and repurposing.

In Figure 1, BEVs are shown to have lower life-cycle GHG emissions than ICEVs for model year 2024 and 2030 SUVs.

When comparing the climate pollution emitted over the lifetime of SUVs built in 2024, the GHG emissions of the BEV SUV with a 300-mile range are 71% lower than the ICEV. BEVs require only about one-fourth (or less) the energy needed to power a comparable ICEV.

Our analysis comports with other studies that found driving a 300-mile-range BEV with an average efficiency of 0.31 kWh per mile in every U.S. state had significantly lower life-cycle GHG emissions than the average ICEV. BEVs outperform all vehicle types, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

By the end of the typical operation phase of a 2024 SUV, BEVs have emitted about 130 g COe/mile and ICEVs have emitted more than 450 g COe/mile. Looking ahead to the 2030-2047 U.S. average grid mix, BEVs are associated with 77% fewer GHG emissions than ICEVs.

As the electricity grid becomes cleaner after 2047, the emissions advantage of BEVs will only grow. In the United States, operational and announced recycling capacity should be sufficient to process end-of-life batteries from BEVs and PHEVs up until 2044.

Several states and cities are approaching their goal of a fully renewable electricity grid. The emissions from battery production, which are about 25% of a BEV's life-cycle emissions today, will decrease as battery technologies and recycling operations improve.

In conclusion, BEVs are a substantially greener choice over their full lifetime, outperforming ICEVs in terms of GHG emissions across major global markets. As electric grids transition to renewable sources and battery production becomes cleaner and more efficient, the emissions advantage of BEVs will continue to grow.

1. The study suggests that electric vehicles (BEVs), particularly those built in 2024, produce about 70% lower lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), and this difference increases as electric grids become cleaner and battery technologies advance.
2. In the examination of the climate pollution emitted over the lifetime of SUVs built in 2024, the GHG emissions of the BEV SUV with a 300-mile range are 71% lower than the ICEV, requiring only about one-fourth (or less) the energy needed to power a comparable ICEV.
3. As the electricity grid becomes cleaner, primarily relying on renewables, and battery production becomes cleaner and more efficient, the emissions advantage of BEVs will only grow, making them a substantially greener choice over ICEVs, outperforming them in terms of GHG emissions across major global markets.

Read also: