ICCT disproves dirty EVs scuttlebutt

Dirty EVs

Despite evidence, electric vehicle skeptics continue to suggest that EVs are as dirty as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. In fact Toyota uses the dirty EVs excuse for their hesitancy to go all in on battery electric cars.

But now a study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) estimates that battery electric cars sold today emit nearly 4 times less greenhouse gases over their lifetime than gasoline cars. At least those sold in Europe.

The research claims that today’s electric cars produce 73% less life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than their gasoline counterparts, including production emissions, 24% better than 2021 estimates.

The chart below leaves out the Y axis title to help fit a mobile page and still be readable. It is Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions (gCO2e/km), but the 73% difference can be seen very clearly.

In contrast, other powertrains, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids, show only marginal or no progress in reducing their climate impacts.

The study finds that only battery electric cars can deliver the large-scale emission cuts needed to address Europe’s most polluting transport mode. Passenger cars account for nearly three-quarters of the sector’s emissions.

“We hope this study brings clarity to the public conversation, so that policymakers and industry leaders can make informed decisions,” said Dr. Georg Bieker, ICCT Senior Researcher. “We’ve recently seen auto industry leaders misrepresenting the emissions math on hybrids. But life-cycle analysis is not a choose-your-own-adventure exercise. Our study accounts for the most representative use cases and is grounded in real-world data. Consumers deserve accurate, science-backed information.”

ICCT’s full press release can be seen here.

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