Based on available research, electric vehicles (EVs) can produce higher operational emissions than hybrid vehicles in rare cases when charged with coal-heavy electricity, though they generally remain cleaner than conventional gas-powered cars even in high-emission grids.
Key findings:
- Coal-dependent grids:
In regions like West Virginia, where coal dominates electricity generation, MIT researchers found EVs create slightly more operational emissions than hybrids (but still less than gas cars). However, the same study emphasizes EVs consistently outperform conventional gasoline vehicles in lifetime emissions across all U.S. regions. - Global context:
The EPA and MIT studies agree that EVs typically have a smaller carbon footprint than gas cars even with dirty grids due to superior energy efficiency (EVs use 87–91% of battery energy vs. gas cars’ 16–25% fuel efficiency). - Non-CO₂ emissions:
A 2024 CMU-cited study warns about increased particulate emissions from EV tires and brakes due to heavier vehicle weight, though this applies to all vehicle types with similar mass and does not directly correlate with grid energy mix.
Regional exceptions:
While no major studies conclusively show EVs emitting more total CO₂ than gas cars in any region, the breakeven period for EVs to offset their manufacturing emissions varies. For example:
- Coal-heavy grids: EVs may take slightly longer to match hybrids’ emissions but still outperform gas cars within ~2 years.
- Hydro/wind-rich grids (e.g., Washington State): EVs achieve up to 61% lower emissions than hybrids.
Verdict:
EVs do not produce more total emissions than gas-powered cars in any U.S. region under current energy mixes, though their advantage over hybrids narrows in coal-reliant areas. Globally, similar dynamics likely apply where electricity generation relies heavily on fossil fuels.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/are-there-any-regions-where-evs-produce-more-emissions-than-gas-powered-cars-due-to-the-energy-mix/
