Summary
- Hybrid vehicles could be up to 4.9 times dirtier than battery electric vehicles
- The study by ICCT compared life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of different powertrains
- Battery electric cars are the cleanest form of transportation today
- BEVs are still superior even when charged from a regular grid
- Predictions show BEVs are only going to get cleaner in the future, with conventional ICE vehicles having much higher emissions than BEVs powered by renewable energy
Article
The International Council of Clean Transportation (ICCT) conducted a study comparing the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of different vehicle powertrains, including ICE vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The study found that BEVs are the cleanest form of transportation, especially when charged with renewable energy sources. Even when charged from a regular grid, BEVs are still superior in terms of emissions compared to ICE, HEV, and PHEV vehicles. The study also noted that BEV sedans and SUVs have the lowest life-cycle GHG emissions across all powertrains.
The study specifically looked at model year 2024 vehicles, which represents the current state of the sustainable auto market. It considered the GHG emissions related to the life cycle of vehicles, from manufacturing to disposal. This addressed the common anti-EV talking point that battery electric vehicles are dirtier than conventional cars due to high emissions involved in battery mining and manufacturing. The study found that PHEVs emit roughly 2 times higher GHG emissions over their lifetime compared to BEVs powered by the average grid mix, while HEVs emit 2.2 times (sedans) and 2.5 times (SUVs) more than BEVs.
The ICCT study also predicted that BEVs will continue to get cleaner in the future, with projected new vehicles to be sold in 2030 estimated to have even larger relative benefits over ICE vehicles. Conventional ICE SUVs are projected to have 7.5 times higher life-cycle GHG emissions than BEVs powered by 100% renewable electricity by 2030. This is due to the ongoing decarbonization of the electricity grid and improved efficiency of BEVs. The study also noted that projected new PHEVs in 2030 would emit 2.1 times (sedans) and 2.2 times (SUVs) more life-cycle GHGs than new BEVs powered by grid-average electricity.
Overall, the ICCT study highlights the significant difference in emissions between different vehicle powertrains, with BEVs emerging as the cleanest option, especially when charged with renewable energy sources. The study challenges the notion that battery electric vehicles are not as clean as conventional cars, debunking the myth that BEVs have higher emissions due to battery production and mining. Instead, the study showcases the superior environmental performance of BEVs, making a strong case for transitioning to electric vehicles for sustainable transportation.
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