Elbilar bättre för klimatet, inklusive utsläpp vid tillverkning

Vad händer

Elbilar orsakar större utsläpp än bensinbilar vid produktionen men så fort bilarna börjar rulla är förhållandet det omvända, bensinbilar orsakar mycket större utsläpp än elbilar. Totalt är elbilar klart bättre för klimatet, oavsett om de är nya eller begagnade.

Kontext

Focus on the blue bars to start. You can see that the sum of the battery and car production for EVs is higher than the production of a fossil fuel car. Producing an EV emits more than a petrol or diesel one.

But, when we factor in the emissions of driving, EVs are much better.

Over its lifetime, the average driver in the US could reduce emissions by half by switching to an EV.

Sustainability by Numbers: Electric cars are better for the climate than petrol or diesel

Electric vehicles emit more during their production, but this quickly pays back once people start driving

Sustainability by Numbers: Electric cars are better for the climate than petrol or diesel

Vad har det för betydelse

Om bilarna tillverkas på platser som redan producerar mycket elektricitet från fri energi blir utsläppen lägre. Även då produktionen drivs helt med kol är eldrift bättre för klimatet.

There’s no contest: EVs emit much less than fossil cars, even though they emit more in their production.

Sustainability by Numbers: Electric cars are better for the climate than petrol or diesel

In both the US and Europe, EVs represent a substantial reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to the average conventional vehicle.

As electricity generation becomes less carbon intensive – particularly at the margin – electric vehicles will become preferable to all conventional vehicles in virtually all cases. There are fundamental limitations on how efficient petrol and diesel vehicles can become, whereas low-carbon electricity and increased battery manufacturing efficiency can cut much of the manufacturing emissions and nearly all electricity use emissions from EVs.

Carbon Brief: Factcheck: How electric vehicles help to tackle climate change

I nyheterna

• Sustainability by Numbers: Electric cars are better for the climate than petrol or diesel
• Carbon Brief: Factcheck: How electric vehicles help to tackle climate change
• Bildkälla: Teslabotar monterar