EVs’ lifecycles emit 50% less greenhouse gas than diesel

Electric cars emit 50% less greenhouse gas than diesel, a new study says.

And that’s taking into account EVs which get their power from coal or other carbon intensive electricity generation.

“On average, electric vehicles will emit half the CO2 emissions of a diesel car by 2030, including the manufacturing emissions,” says Yoann Le Petit of the T&E think tank which commissioned the study, The Guardian reports.

Poland uses high volumes of coal to produce electricity, but EVs there produced a quarter less emissions than diesels when put through a full lifecycle modelling study by Belgium’s VUB University.

“In this study you can see that even in Poland today it is more beneficial to the climate to drive an electric vehicle than a diesel,” Le Petit says.

CO2 reductions in Sweden were 85%, falling to about a half for countries such as the United Kingdom.

Researchers calculated the total lifecycle emissions of an electric car, including its manufacture, battery manufacture, and all of its energy consumption.

in Brussels, a new emissions standard for 2030 is set to be announced in November, and wider restrictions are likely.

“One option we’re looking at is a mandate to ensure a minimum share of low – for manufacturers it could be zero – emitting vehicles,” EU climate commissioner Miguel Canete told the European parliament.

About 1.7% of new vehicles sold in Europe are electric, and some EU officials question whether Europe has access to enough lithium to create a 5-10% market share for electric cars.
Its capacity to boost battery plants’ production may also be in doubt.

The VUB study says that while the supply of critical metals – lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite – and rare earths would have to be closely monitored and diversified, it should not constrain the clean transport transition.
As battery technology improves and more renewables enter the electricity grid, emissions from battery production itself could be cut by 65%, the study suggests.