ICCT Report: Electric Vehicles Outperform Traditional Cars in Environmental Performance

According to a recent report from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), pure electric vehicles (EVs) have significantly surpassed traditional internal combustion engine vehicles in terms of environmental performance over their lifecycle, particularly as sustainable energy increases in Europe. The report states that the carbon emissions from the latest generation of pure electric vehicles will be 73% lower than those of gasoline cars, marking a 24 percentage point improvement from predictions made in 2021. ICCT researcher Marta Negri noted that, in addition to utilizing renewable energy for charging and production, the energy efficiency of pure electric vehicles continues to improve. "Electric vehicles in Europe are becoming more environmentally friendly at a pace that exceeds expectations, outperforming all other technologies, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles," Negri stated. The ICCT pointed out that, in contrast, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid models have only achieved minor environmental improvements in recent years. Data shows that the lifecycle emissions of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles are 20% and 30% lower than gasoline vehicles, respectively. The report emphasizes that "only pure electric vehicles can achieve significant lifecycle greenhouse gas reductions under the average fuel and electricity structure in the EU." This study is based on the sales-weighted characteristics of compact cars sold in the EU in 2023 and assumes a vehicle lifespan of 20 years. Furthermore, the ICCT cited EU data indicating that by 2045, renewable energy sources like solar and wind are expected to account for 86% of Europe's energy structure. It is noteworthy that lifecycle assessment methods provide a more comprehensive measurement of carbon footprints than tailpipe emissions alone, covering the entire process from raw material extraction, component manufacturing, production, energy consumption (including energy production methods), to disposal or recycling. Proponents argue that lifecycle assessment methods are more accurate than current standards focused on tailpipe emissions, while critics point out that lifecycle data can be selectively manipulated. The ICCT acknowledged that "given inconsistencies in research scope and methodological choices, individual lifecycle assessment studies may yield different or even contradictory results," but it also noted that earlier lifecycle assessment studies "have repeatedly demonstrated that pure electric vehicles eliminate tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions and represent the most promising avenue for rapidly reducing lifecycle emissions." Critics of pure electric vehicles argue that carbon emissions during battery production are often too high to be offset by zero tailpipe emissions. The ICCT recognized this claim in the report but stated that this "emission debt" can be offset after the vehicle has traveled 17,000 kilometers. The European Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) are currently working to coordinate measurement methods for lifecycle assessments. Starting next year, automakers will voluntarily be able to report their vehicles' lifecycle emissions using the Committee's methods. ICCT data shows that, based on the average European power grid (assuming a mix of current renewable and non-renewable energy), the lifecycle emissions for gasoline and pure electric vehicles are 235 grams of CO2 per kilometer and 63 grams of CO2 per kilometer, respectively, while plug-in hybrid vehicles have lifecycle emissions of 163 grams/km, and full hybrid vehicles 188 grams/km. The report argues that lifecycle emissions for electric vehicles are often overestimated because these assessments are based on a static grid structure, rather than assuming an increasing proportion of renewable energy. Additionally, shorter lifecycle assumptions (less than 20 years) often disadvantage electric vehicles. It is also important to note that there is a discrepancy between testing and actual usage, as on-board monitoring has found that plug-in hybrid vehicles emit 3.5 times more than test results due to owners not charging frequently. The study also found that pure electric vehicles have an advantage in emissions during maintenance due to their simpler structure. The ICCT stated that without considering these factors, lifecycle emissions for pure electric vehicles could be overestimated by 64%. The report concluded that when these factors are included, the emission levels of pure electric vehicles appear to be comparable to those of plug-in hybrid vehicles.