Investigation Finds Electrified Vehicles' Carbon Footprint Decreasing With Rising Renewable Energy Sources - Research Findings: Electric Vehicles Show Promising Impact on Climate by Increasing Use of Renewable Energy Sources
In a groundbreaking Swiss study conducted in 2024, it was revealed that replacing over 90% of existing petrol and diesel cars with similarly-sized electric vehicles (EVs) could immediately save significant amounts of CO₂ emissions, with the exception of vehicles that are rarely driven. This study affirms that the switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) cars to EVs is beneficial from a climate perspective, despite the environmental cost of manufacturing EVs. The positive impact is even greater if the EV is charged using renewable energy [1][2].
The Union of Concerned Scientists in the United States has also reported that electric cars and pickups generate approximately half the lifetime climate-changing emissions compared to similar gasoline vehicles. This accounts for the entire vehicle life cycle, including manufacturing and operation [3].
Similar trends are evident in lifecycle analyses conducted in the European Union, which show significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from EVs compared to gasoline cars, particularly as the electricity grid becomes greener [4].
The environmental advantage of EVs depends on the electricity source. The greener the power used to charge, the larger the emissions savings compared to gasoline vehicles. Users can calculate emissions differences based on their local grid mix [5].
The study, which also covers alternative drives such as hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, reveals that replacing gasoline cars with electric vehicles results in significant net reductions in carbon emissions over the vehicle lifetime. The benefit is immediate for most vehicles, except for those very infrequently used. Charging EVs with renewable energy enhances their climate advantage substantially. The production emissions of EVs, while higher upfront, are offset relatively quickly by their cleaner operation [1][2][3][4][5].
The study further highlights that fuel cell vehicles, like hybrids and plug-in hybrids, have seen little progress in reducing their climate impacts in recent years. Plug-in hybrids are driven electrically less often in everyday life than originally assumed. The availability of alternative fuels for vehicles with internal combustion engines remains uncertain in the future [1][2][3][4][5].
In summary, from a climate balance standpoint, especially when green power is utilized, electric cars are clearly more environmentally beneficial than gasoline cars today. The fuel mix for vehicles with internal combustion engines continues to be based mainly on fossil energy carriers. The ICCT, an international transport research organisation, was involved in the study.
[1] ICCT (2024) Swiss Study Reveals Electric Vehicles Significantly Reduce CO₂ Emissions. Available at: https://www.icct.org/news/swiss-study-reveals-electric-vehicles-significantly-reduce-co2-emissions
[2] Swiss Federal Office of Energy (2024) Study Shows Electric Vehicles Can Save CO₂ Emissions. Available at: https://www.bfe.ch/de/news/studie-zeigt-elektromobilitaet-ko2-emissionen-sparen
[3] Union of Concerned Scientists (2021) Electric Vehicles: Myths and Facts. Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/electric-vehicles-myths-and-facts
[4] European Commission (2021) Life Cycle Assessment of Electric Vehicles. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/integrated_transport_policy/sustainable_mobility/electric_vehicles/docs/20210520-life-cycle-assessment-of-electric-vehicles_en.pdf
[5] International Energy Agency (2021) Electric Vehicles: The Road to Green Mobility. Available at: https://www.iea.org/reports/electric-vehicles-the-road-to-green-mobility
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of the environment, considering the study that reveals electric vehicles (EVs) can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions.
- Science, backed by numerous studies, suggests that climate-change mitigation can be best achieved by adopting environmental-science-based lifestyle choices, such as driving electric vehicles (EVs) instead of traditional cars.
- The study indicating the environmental benefits of EVs over internal combustion engine (ICE) cars highlights the importance of technology advancements, particularly in the production and charging of electric vehicles, to lessen their environmental impact.
- The progress in reducing the climate impact of electric vehicles (EVs) has been widely reported in various studies, making them a compelling solution for addressing climate-change concerns while maintaining an environmentally-friendly lifestyle in the context of advancements in technology and environmental consciousness.
