Electric Vehicles Beat Gas Cars on Climate Emissions over Time<\/p>\n
New research says building electric vehicles leaves a bigger carbon footprint than making gas-powered cars, though EVs make up the difference in the long run<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
By Mike Lee<\/a> & E&E News<\/a><\/p>\n Traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, US, on Thursday, June 29, 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n David Paul Morris\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n CLIMATEWIRE |<\/b> The production of battery-powered vehicles creates more carbon dioxide than making those that run on gasoline, a new report says. But EVs overcome the emissions difference relatively quickly.<\/p>\n An average EV produced in the U.S. in 2023 will close the gap in about 2.2 years or 25,000 miles, according to analysis<\/a> released Monday by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.<\/p>\n After that, electric vehicles emit significantly less CO2 than internal combustion vehicles, particularly when considering how long a typical car stays in service. And the advantage likely will increase as electric generation becomes cleaner, the paper said.<\/p>\n If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing<\/a>. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.<\/p>\n \u201cJust like any car, you have to remember they\u2019re going to be on the road about 10 years,\u201d said Corey Cantor, a senior associate at BNEF who helped write the study.<\/p>\n The break-even period is longer in other countries \u2014 four years in the U.K., 5.1 years in Germany, 5.6 years in Japan and 9.6 years in China. But by 2030, it\u2019s projected to be significantly shorter \u2014 two years in the U.K., 2.1 years in Germany, 3.1 years in Japan and 4.6 years in China.<\/p>\n The research addresses one of the central criticisms of electric vehicles \u2014 the amount of pollution created by the battery supply chain, which is still centered in China.<\/p>\n The payback period is slightly higher than the last time BNEF calculated the emissions from EVs, but that\u2019s due in part to changes in methodology. The new version of the study is based on the larger batteries that are common in the U.S., for instance, and it assumes that batteries are produced in China rather than the United States.<\/p>\n Emissions from battery production are expected to fall as the Inflation Reduction Act forces companies to move production to the United States. The law also provides incentives to clean up the electric generation industry.<\/p>\n Reprinted from <\/i>E&E News<\/i><\/a> with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2024. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Cars](\"https:\/\/static.scientificamerican.com\/dam\/m\/38c343a6cfe7012d\/original\/GettyImages-1335224908.jpg?w=600\")
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