It is often said that the electric vehicle is “clean”, “zero emissions”, or even” carbon neutral ”.
Is that really the case? What is the real carbon footprint of an electric car?
In this article, we decipher the environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions of these plug-in cars... And this, on all of their lifecycle, from the extraction of rare metals to the end of life.
Above all, we help you select a solution of mobility adapted to your challenges, and those of the climate.
Electric, thermal or hybrid cars: their carbon footprint revealed!
1. The carbon footprint of an electric car
1.1 The myth of “clean” vehicles
You have certainly already heard that the electric car is “clean” or “zero emissions”. Yes? So you faced a handsome example of greenwashing. In advertising, a lot of information on these so-called low-carbon vehicles is omitted. The objective? Make you believe that you are meeting climate challenges by driving on electricity.
This is not entirely the case, unfortunately!
- It's true, During use, the emissions of fine particles are limited. Since air pollution is a public health issue, that's a good point!
- But it doesn't end there: The carbon pollution of the battery car does not come from its use... But rather its production.
So what is the carbon footprint of electric vehicles? The problem is... it depends.
1.2 The carbon footprint of gasoline-free cars
Greenhouse gas emissions from this means of transport depend on several points:
- methods of manufacturing and extracting materials, in particular for the battery;
- The autonomy of the car, that is, the size of the battery;
- The electricity used to charge the car, its carbon footprint and its other pollutions.
On average, It is estimated that the electric car emits 100g of CO2e per kilometer. The same gasoline-powered model emits 200 to 250 g CO2/km. That's twice as much!
1.3 An environmental performance that needs to be balanced
However, this carbon performance needs to be nuanced.
- The low level of emissions is made possible by the carbon-free electricity used in France. In a country that still relies heavily on coal, the benefits for the climate are much less obvious.
- The pollution associated with the electric car depends greatly on its autonomy. A heavier battery is needed to drive for a long time without stopping. Manufacturing is all the more an emitter of greenhouse gases. Therefore, electric SUVs and travel vehicles have a much lower carbon footprint.
Moreover, talking about emissions per kilometer means omitting an important element: it is over the entire life cycle of an equipment that we can calculate its real carbon impact.
1.4 The life cycle analysis of an electric vehicle
Life cycle analysis allows you to visualize all the carbon emissions of a good, from its manufacture to its end of life. This method is used to calculate a rigorous balance of greenhouse gas emissions.
For the electric vehicle, the main stages of the life cycle and their pollutions are as follows.
- Extraction and processing of raw materials, in particular metals and rare earths (lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese for the battery).
- Vehicle and battery production. These first two steps account for 75% of the contribution to global warming on average, with battery production accounting for up to 45% of the total.
- The use : fuel-free cars contribute to improving air quality in cities.
- Electricity production used to recharge the battery: coal, nuclear or renewable energies will not have the same environmental impacts!
- The end of life. Some opportunities can be taken to reduce the carbon footprint of electric vehicles: reuse of the battery, recycling of materials, etc.
Over its entire life cycle, an electric city car would emit 12 tons of CO2e. (Source: FNH, 2016.) In 2030, this value could reach 8 tons of CO2e, thanks to the energy transition and the improvement of manufacturing processes.
2. Electric car, environment and climate: the challenges
2.1 Other environmental impacts of the electric vehicles
The carbon footprint of electric vehicles therefore seems advantageous.
But is the climate the only issue affected by this so-called “green” mobility? No, unfortunately.
The main criticism of electric cars is based on the consumption of rare-earth elements.. The lithium, in particular, is used in the composition of batteries. But we also exploit cobalt, nickel, and manganese. These materials are now extracted and processed in so-called developing countries, under poor health and environmental conditions.
What are the problems?
- Impoverishment of local fauna and flora, destruction of natural ecosystems due to polluting discharges.
- Social impacts due to unhealthy and dangerous working conditions, but also to effluents impacting local populations.
- Europe's dependence on Chinese quarries for the supply of rare-earth elements.
- Depletion of resources : lithium, nickel and manganese present a risk in terms of supply. Cobalt, on the other hand, could run out even more quickly. In general, at the current rate of mineral use, we will only be able to produce digital equipment until 2050. (Source: INR, 2020).
2.2 The carbon footprint of electric cars is falling
These carbon, social and environmental impacts increase with the autonomy of the vehicle, i.e. the size of the battery. The consequences of a rapid increase in the electric car market could be dramatic... In any case, in the absence of particular attention to the conditions for extracting raw materials.
Fortunately, there is another path.
In fact, The carbon footprint of electric vehicle manufacturing could be reduced by 20 to 25% between 2016 and 2030 ! How? Thanks to more efficient industrial processes:
- rational energy consumption;
- a low-carbon electricity mix;
- a global CSR approach for economic actors;
- a relocation of battery production;
- etc.
Today, all too often, the production of this equipment is exported to China, where environmental standards are insufficient (or even non-existent), or to countries where electricity is mostly produced from coal.
That should change with the Green Deal! 2035 will mark the end of the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles in Europe.
3. The carbon footprint of hybrid and internal combustion vehicles
It's interesting to know the carbon footprint of an electric car, but it's not enough. What is needed to make the right choice is to be able to compare with other mobility options.
- Today, thermal vehicles are the most present on the roads... But also the most criticized for their carbon impact and fine pollution.
- Hybrid cars are often proposed as an ideal compromise, combining the advantages of electric and thermal cars.
What is the situation really?
3.1 Greenhouse gas emissions from internal combustion cars
A gas-powered city car would have a carbon footprint of 32 t CO2e over its entire life cycle. The CO2 footprint of a gasoline-powered hatchback would rise to nearly 45 t CO2e under the same assumptions!
- In France, with a carbon-free energy mix, an electric city car therefore has a carbon footprint that is 3 times lower than its gasoline-equivalent.
- For a hatchback, with longer battery life, this ratio falls to 1 or 2 in 2016.
The climate benefits of electric vehicles therefore depend greatly on their use! To drive in the city or to cross France, we will not use the same mode of transport.
3.2 The carbon footprint of hybrid cars
Hybrid cars often seem like a good compromise.
- In the city (less than 50 km/h), the electric motor propels the vehicle.
- For higher speeds, the combustion engine takes over.
Overconsumption is therefore avoided at startup and during accelerations.
You can then drive in the city without the release of fine pollution, while enjoying a long battery life in the event of leaving on vacation. But this requires transporting an electric battery AND a thermal vehicle.
Over its entire life cycle, the carbon footprint of a plug-in hybrid car is somewhere between electric and thermal.
- One Hybrid city car emits 21 t CO2e (2 times more than electric) over the course of its life.
- A hatchback emits nearly 32 t CO2e (compared to 20 t CO2e for electric vehicles).
However, it is necessary to differentiate between plug-in and non-rechargeable hybrid cars.
- In the first case, a specific battery takes over from the combustion engine at low speed (especially in the city), with a range of several tens of kilometers. This technology allows real gains on the carbon balance.
- In the second case, on the other hand, greenhouse gas emissions over the entire life cycle are greater than internal combustion vehicles. The electric battery can only be recharged by the thermal engine, greatly limiting its environmental interest.
4. Choosing a vehicle that respects the climate: solutions and perspectives
4.1 A vehicle for each use
Between electric, gasoline or hybrid cars, there is no right answer: everything depends on the use.
- For short trips, we recommend the electric car. A shared fleet is particularly suitable for businesses, for example. Of course, soft mobility is best as soon as possible (walking, public transport, cycling, etc.).
- For long trips, the train is preferred. If you care about the car, Practice eco-driving to save up to 40% on fuel.
Shared vehicles, carpooling and rental allow the right vehicle to be used for each use, without multiplying their production.
In any case, it is important to keep one fact in mind. The greenhouse gas emissions vary from simple to double depending on the car model chosen, even hybrid or electric. We therefore prefer a light, eco-designed vehicle that is adapted to its needs. Moreover, ADEME offers a Comparison to choose the cleanest possible vehicle.
4.2 The electric car, a low-carbon choice under certain conditions
Finally, The electric car is a relevant way to reduce GHG emissions in the world... Under certain conditions.
- During the manufacturing and resource extraction, processes must emit few greenhouse gases. In particular, battery production must follow demanding environmental standards.
- In use, the consumption of low-carbon electricity is necessary.
- Finally, users should accept moderate load capacity, despite improved battery efficiency. In 2021, there is still a tendency to take advantage of the improvement of industrial processes to produce more. This is the rebound effect, which was denounced with 5G. Since each use emits less carbon, is easier and faster, more is required... Leading to an overall increase in emissions. For electric vehicles, on the contrary, we will have to accept a lower autonomy than thermal cars.
Experts agree that, globally, the electric car is an effective solution to reduce the carbon footprint of our trips, and therefore our impact on climate change.
During use and at the end of life, other mechanisms can be put in place to improve the carbon footprint of electric cars : sharing of vehicles, regulation of the electrical network thanks to battery storage capacity, reuse of batteries at the end of their life, etc.
Finally, the The carbon footprint of electric vehicles is more advantageous than that of thermal cars. However, it is necessary to choose a mode of transport adapted to your needs. With good practices, soft mobility and electric cars can significantly reduce a company's CO2 footprint. For more advice on carbon footprint, discover our dedicated article !
sourcing
Carbon 4, 2020. https://www.carbone4.com/voiture-electrique-etre-decarbonee-de-production-a-lusage
The electric vehicle in the ecological transition in France, FNH, 2017. https://www.fnh.org/sites/default/files/vehicule_electrique_synthese.pdf
Speech by Guillaume Colin de Sami, in November 2021. https://www.20minutes.fr/magazine/climato-actifs-mag/3168907-20211109-vaut-bilan-carbone-vae
Annual report on transport in 2019: externalities, Ministry of Ecological Transition, November 2020. https://www.statistiques.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2020-11/datalab_76_comptes_transports_2019_externalites_novembre2020.pdf
INR, Responsible Digital Mooc, consulted in 2020.
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