The exceptional performance and cutting edge technology of EVs have played a role in making them popular. However, what has made them especially attractive is their zero tailpipe emission nature.
This is where the EVs have been able to completely blow the internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles out of the water.
But what if we tell you that the same EVs that are adored around the world for their zero-emissions are a major contributor to global pollution during their production stage?
And what if we go into further details and inform you that in causing such damage, they even surpass their gasoline counterparts?
Carbon Footprint Comparison During Car Production
In a study carried out by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), it has been found that during the production of a gasoline vehicle, similar in size to a VW Golf, a total of 7.2 tons of carbon emissions are expelled into the environment.
However, on the contrary, while producing a similar-sized electric vehicle, a total of 9.2 tons of carbon emissions are produced.
The Overall Effect Is Massive
This number might not seem much but taking into consideration that millions of electric vehicles are annually produced mainly due to their zero-emissions hype, the overall effect on the environment is much more concerning.
Consider multiplying the extra 2.0 tons of carbon emissions per EV production with the millions of EVs that are produced each year and you will be surprised by the results.
This is causing major concern as the technology that everyone initially adopted due to its nature friendliness is actually becoming the biggest source of concern.
What Makes EVs So Dangerous For The Planet?
The most important constituent of an EV is its battery. The production of these Li-ion batteries causes a significant strain on the planet due to carbon emissions.
How Can The EVs Pay Back?
However, the EVs indeed have zero tailpipe emissions. Furthermore, as these vehicles usually stay in use for thousands of kilometers before becoming redundant, EVs can payback.
Just Drive Your EV For 11,000 Kilometers Or More
Another analysis has revealed that an average EV in the UK will make up for the additional 2.0 tons carbon emissions generated during its production after covering only 11,000 kilometers.
EVs Last Longer, Will Need Lesser Replacements
This is a very small number when we take into account that EVs have very low maintenance costs.
So to keep them running, very few parts need to be replaced. This means that these EVs might even outlive their gasoline counterparts.
This means that in the future, we might need to produce fewer new EVs than the number of ICE-powered vehicles that we currently manufacture each year.
Per Kilometer CO2 Emissions
Research by the ICCT has further claimed that the overall carbon emissions per km of an EV are 35g. What makes it more impressive is that even this small amount is not produced by the EVs, rather it is due to electricity produced at the grid which is then used by the EVs.
On the contrary, the CO2 tailpipe emissions of a gasoline vehicle are 211g. This means that per kilometer, the average vehicle produces almost 6 times more CO2 footprint than EVs.
Breaking Even In The UK
For a country like the UK where the average person drives his vehicle almost 17,000 kilometers per year, the CO2 breakeven will be achieved within a year after which the EVs will start doing what they are best at, saving the planet.
Breaking Even In The US
In the US, you need to drive the Tesla Model 3 with a 54kWh battery, for 22,000 kilometers to make it cleaner than a Toyota Corolla that achieves a fuel economy of 53 kilometers per 4 liters.
Final Verdict
While the production of EVs is more CO2 intensive, such vehicles are much safer for the planet in the long run.
However, you just need to keep driving your EV for a long time to make it more environmentally friendly.
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