Are Electric Cars Really Greener Than Traditional Engines? A Data-Driven Comparison

As the world moves towards sustainability and renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs) are often seen as the future of transportation. They promise cleaner air, reduced emissions, and a smaller carbon footprint. But is the reality as green as it seems?

In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at the environmental impact of electric vehicles (EVs) versus traditional gasoline-powered cars. We’ll break down the real costs and benefits, from lithium mining and energy sources for charging to the carbon footprint of manufacturing and overall emissions. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of whether electric cars are really as green as they’re made out to be.

1. The Hidden Environmental Cost: Lithium Mining and Battery Production

Electric vehicle batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, are essential for EVs, but their production and the materials used to build them come with environmental costs.

Lithium Mining

Lithium is a key component of EV batteries, and its extraction involves significant environmental impacts. Lithium is often mined through two main methods: from brine or hard rock. Both processes contribute to water depletion and pollution, and lithium extraction in some areas can release substantial amounts of CO2. Estimates suggest that mining lithium can produce between 2 to 15 tons of CO2 per ton of lithium extracted.

Battery Production Emissions

Producing an electric vehicle’s battery requires substantial energy, which is often derived from fossil fuels. On average, manufacturing a 60 kWh EV battery emits 150-200 kg of CO2 per kWh. For a full EV battery of 60 kWh, this can add up to 9,000-12,000 kg of CO2 before the car is even driven.

2. Charging Your EV: How Clean Is the Energy You’re Using?

While EVs themselves produce zero tailpipe emissions, the source of the electricity used to charge them plays a significant role in their environmental impact.

Fossil Fuel-Powered Grid

In many parts of the world, electricity is still largely generated by burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. For example, coal-fired power plants produce around 1 kg of CO2 per kWh of electricity generated. If an EV is charged using electricity from this type of energy grid, the environmental benefits of driving an EV are greatly reduced.

Renewable Energy

On the other hand, if an EV is charged using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind, the carbon footprint of charging can be as low as 0.05 kg of CO2 per kWh. This means that the cleaner the energy source, the more beneficial EVs become.

3. Manufacturing Footprint: The Real Cost of Building an EV

The manufacturing process of electric cars, particularly the production of batteries, generates a significant carbon footprint. This is due to the energy-intensive processes involved in battery production.

EV vs. ICE Manufacturing Emissions

Manufacturing an electric car with a 60 kWh battery typically results in an additional 5,000-7,000 kg of CO2 emissions compared to a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. However, this difference is often offset over the lifetime of the vehicle, as EVs generally have lower operational emissions due to their energy efficiency.

4. Fuel Production: The Environmental Cost of Gasoline and Diesel

While traditional vehicles run on gasoline or diesel, the environmental costs of these fuels don’t end at the pump.

Gasoline and Diesel Emissions

Gasoline production emits around 2.3 kg of CO2 per liter, and the overall carbon footprint of a traditional car is significantly affected by the energy required to extract, refine, and transport oil. A typical ICE vehicle that consumes 8 liters of gasoline per 100 km will emit 184 grams of CO2 per kilometer from fuel consumption alone, with additional emissions from extraction and transportation.

5. A Data-Driven Comparison: EV vs ICE

Let’s compare the carbon emissions from both types of vehicles over a 200,000 km (124,000 miles) lifetime, considering both the manufacturing phase and the operation phase.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Emissions:

Battery Production: Producing a 60 kWh battery is energy-intensive, especially because of the mining, refining, and manufacturing processes. The CO2 emissions from battery production can reach approximately 200 kg of CO2 per kWh. For a 60 kWh battery:

60kWh×200kg CO2/kWh = 12,000kg CO2

Charging Emissions: The emissions from charging an EV depend heavily on the energy mix used. If the vehicle is charged using electricity from fossil fuel sources like coal, the emissions are higher. An EV that uses 20 kWh per 100 km will generate:
(200,000 km / 100 km)×20kWh×0.5kg CO2 = 20,000kg CO2
Total CO2 for EV: Adding both battery production and charging emissions, the total CO2 emissions for an EV over 200,000 km would be:
12,000kg+20,000kg = 32,000kg CO2

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicle Emissions:

Fuel Consumption: A typical ICE vehicle emits 2.3 kg of CO2 for every liter of fuel it burns. For a vehicle consuming 8 liters per 100 km, over 200,000 km, it burns 16,000 liters of fuel: 16,000liters×2.3kg CO2/liter = 36,800kg CO2
Fuel Extraction and Transport: The CO2 emissions from extracting, refining, and transporting oil also contribute to the carbon footprint of an ICE vehicle. This process adds approximately 0.2 kg of CO2 per liter. For 16,000 liters of fuel:
16,000liters×0.2kg CO2/liter = 3,200kg CO2
Total CO2 for ICE: When factoring in fuel consumption and fuel extraction, the total CO2 emissions for a conventional car are:
36,800kg+3,200kg = 40,000kg CO2

Comparison: EV vs ICE

EV Manufacturing and Battery Production:
The production of an EV battery is significantly more CO2-intensive than manufacturing a traditional car. This process results in:
60kWh×300kg CO2/kWh = 18,000kg CO2
Charging Emissions (using higher fossil fuel grid):
If the grid is carbon-intensive, emissions increase:
(200,000 km / 100 km)×20kWh×0.6kg CO2 = 24,000kg CO2
Total CO2 for EV:
18,000kg+24,000kg = 42,000kg CO2

CO2 Emissions Over 200,000 km:

Electric Vehicle (EV): 42,000 kg
Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicle: 40,000 kg

Here is the chart comparing the CO2 emissions from Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles across different categories. The chart visually demonstrates the emissions from battery production, charging, fuel consumption, and fuel extraction.

EV Emissions: Higher emissions in battery production and charging from fossil-fuel-based energy sources.
ICE Emissions: Higher emissions from fuel consumption and fuel extraction.

In this comparison, the electric vehicle (EV) has a higher total carbon footprint than the internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle due to the significant emissions involved in battery production and charging from a fossil fuel-dominant energy grid.

However, if we remove the emissions from battery production, the EV tends to have a lower carbon footprint during its operational life, especially if charged using renewable energy sources. Over time, as the grid becomes cleaner and more renewable energy is used, the environmental benefits of EVs will become even more pronounced, making them the better choice in terms of long-term sustainability.

However, in the 2024-2025 reality, this shift is close to impossible in many regions due to the continued reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation. Until the energy grid undergoes significant changes toward renewable sources, the environmental advantages of EVs may be limited in practice.