Emissions from electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles, and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) vary significantly over their lifetimes, influenced by factors like battery production, fuel sources, and driving conditions.
Emissions Comparison
- Electric Vehicles (EVs): EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, but their overall emissions include those from battery production and electricity generation for charging. On average, EVs generate about 195 grams of CO2 per mile, with total lifecycle emissions of approximately 38.7 tons over 180,000 miles.
- Hybrid Vehicles: Traditional hybrids emit around 270 grams of CO2 per mile and about 53.6 tons in their lifetime. They offer better emissions than gasoline-only vehicles but more than EVs and PHEVs.
- Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs): PHEVs emit about 230 grams of CO2 per mile, totaling around 45.6 tons in their lifetime. They produce zero emissions when running on battery power but rely on gasoline when the battery is depleted.
Circumstances Affecting Emissions
The emissions of these vehicles can vary based on factors like:
- Energy Source: The carbon intensity of the electricity used to charge EVs significantly impacts overall emissions.
- Battery Production: EVs require large amounts of energy to produce their batteries, which contributes to their lifecycle emissions.
- Driving Conditions: The efficiency of hybrids and PHEVs depends on driving patterns and whether they are used in conditions that allow them to operate mainly in electric mode.
Overall, EVs generally produce fewer emissions than hybrids and PHEVs over their lifetimes, especially if charged with renewable energy. However, under specific conditions, hybrids might offer comparable or slightly better environmental performance due to varying production and operational factors.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-ev-emissions-compare-to-those-of-hybrid-vehicles-over-their-lifetimes/
