Electric vs. Gasoline Cars: Uncovering the Real Climate Savior

by TTAC Staff

Published: February 23rd, 2024

Photo credit: Nick Starichenko / Shutterstock.com

Contrary to common misconceptions, electric vehicles (EVs) generally have a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional gasoline cars. This advantage remains true even when considering the electricity utilized for charging EVs. One key distinction is that EVs produce no direct tailpipe emissions. However, the production of electricity for EV charging can result in carbon emissions, depending on the energy source.

The carbon pollution from electricity varies based on local energy production methods. For instance, electricity generated from coal or natural gas is associated with higher carbon emissions, while renewable sources like wind or solar energy contribute negligible carbon pollution. Despite the variance in electricity production methods, studies indicate that EVs are typically linked to lower greenhouse gas emissions than the average new gasoline vehicle.

The shift towards renewable energy sources further enhances the environmental benefits of EVs. As more renewable energy sources are integrated into the power grid, the overall greenhouse gas emissions associated with EVs can be further reduced. Notably, in 2020, renewable energy sources rose to become the second-most dominant source of electricity in the United States.

Tools to Measure Your EV's Environmental Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) offer valuable resources for assessing the environmental impact of EVs. The EPA's Power Profiler is an interactive tool that provides information about the electricity production mix in different regions. By entering a zip code, users can understand the specific energy sources powering their local area.

Additionally, the Beyond Tailpipe Emissions Calculator, developed by the EPA and DOE, is a user-friendly tool designed to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions from charging and driving an EV or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). This tool allows users to select specific EV or PHEV models and input their zip code to compare the CO2 emissions from these vehicles with those from gasoline cars. These tools empower individuals to make informed decisions about the environmental impact of their transportation choices.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.

TTAC Staff

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Steve Biro The DriverFocus distraction mitigation system would be enough to keep me from buying the car at all. Good thing it’s not standard on the lower trims. Although dealers tend to option up many of these cars with the “feature” (and automatic emergency steering - another non-starter for me) in order to get the transaction price up.
Bd2 Toyota does it too and Lexus sells Fwd vehicles as Luxury.
Shipwright I owned a '08 Grabber Orange, Shelby GT500 convertible as per my Avatar.
Wunsch Where I live, there's just one professional sports team, so pretty much everybody seems to build their identity around it. A few years back, GM offered a shade of green on the Equinox that was an almost perfect match for the team's signature colour, and I figured that dealers around here make a killing selling those to fans.But still, the dealers brought in very few and stayed focused on the greyscales. There's only a couple of those green Equinoxes around.
Bd2 Lexus has that crazy liquid mercury copper color which is quite unique. Everyone bashes on Lexus for making Toyota based Fwd vehicles and all but hey they have that copper.