EVs produce 73 percent fewer emissions than ICE vehicles over the course of their entire lifespan

EV emissions are now lower than ever, leaving gas-powered cars struggling to keep up. 

A major new study out of Europe shows battery-powered vehicles produce 73 percent fewer emissions over their full life compared to internal combustion engine models.

That includes everything from manufacturing to road use, and even end-of-life recycling.

So when it comes to EV vs ICE, let’s just say one’s running clean, and the other’s running out of arguments.

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EV emissions are dropping faster than expected

The new study from the International Council on Clean Transportation offers one of the most comprehensive looks yet at EV emissions over the full vehicle lifecycle.

And the results are hard to ignore.

According to the report, today’s battery electric vehicles produce 73 percent fewer carbon emissions than their ICE counterparts, when factoring in 20 years of ownership.

That’s a 24 percent improvement over the ICCT’s last report in 2021, thanks to better tech and cleaner power grids.

“Battery electric cars in Europe are getting cleaner faster than we expected and outperform all other technologies,” said ICCT researcher Marta Negri. “Only BEVs offer a large-scale reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions.”

The research included every stage of the process: raw material extraction, manufacturing, road use, and end-of-life disposal or recycling. 

Even when accounting for the carbon footprint of battery production, zero-emission vehicles still came out ahead.

Other vehicle types – like hybrids and plug-in hybrids – showed smaller gains. 

Regular hybrids delivered about 20 percent lower emissions over the same lifespan.

Plug-ins scored 30 percent lower. But neither comes close to full electrics.

The message is clear: if cutting transport-related carbon is the goal, EV emissions are leading the way.

EV vs ICE debate just got a major update

One of the long-standing criticisms of electric vehicles has been the hidden cost of production – especially the energy-intensive process of making batteries. But today’s data shows those concerns don’t hold up anymore.

This latest data shows EVs aren’t just cleaner to drive – they’re cleaner from start to finish.

The ICCT study emphasizes how much cleaner zero-emission vehicles have become in just a few years. 

With cleaner electricity grids and improved battery production, the emissions gap between EV vs ICE is widening rapidly. And it’s only going to accelerate. 

As more renewables come online and automakers transition to greener factories, that 73 percent advantage could climb even higher.

If you’re wondering whether switching to an electric car is worth it – this is the most compelling proof yet. 

The science says yes, the numbers say yes, and now, even the skeptics might need to start recharging their arguments.

Some of the images used for this article were generated using AI

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