Reality Check: More EVs Can Mean Fewer Emissions

The document asserts that EVs in the US already produce 60–68 percent fewer emissions than internal combustion engine vehicles. It highlights that 'smart charging'—specifically Automated Emissions Reduction (AER) technology—can further lower emissions by aligning charging with periods of cleaner energy. The text claims that if 70 million EVs are on the road, emissions-optimized charging would be equivalent to removing an additional 5.73 million internal combustion engine vehicles from the road.

• Electric vehicles in the United States currently generate approximately 60–68 percent fewer emissions compared to vehicles powered by gas and diesel.
• Smart charging, such as Automated Emissions Reduction (AER), can reduce emissions by an additional 18 percent by syncing charging with times of cleaner energy and avoiding dirtier energy, a benefit applicable across all US regions regardless of grid cleanliness.
• If the US reaches a fleet of 70 million EVs, the use of emissions-optimized smart charging would provide an emissions reduction equivalent to removing 5.73 million internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles from the road.
• Emissions can be further minimized by optimizing charging based on local grid mixes—such as evening charging in the Midwest for wind power and daytime charging in California for solar power—and by utilizing faster charging to increase flexibility in timing.
• Smart charging helps balance the electric grid and reduces costs for utilities and owners by utilizing excess renewable energy that would otherwise be curtailed due to production exceeding demand or transmission constraints.

APA

RMI (2022). Reality Check: More EVs Can Mean Fewer Emissions. https://rmi.org/resources/reality-check-more-evs-can-mean-fewer-emissions/

Chicago

RMI. Reality Check: More EVs Can Mean Fewer Emissions. 2022. https://rmi.org/resources/reality-check-more-evs-can-mean-fewer-emissions/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Reality Check: More EVs Can Mean Fewer Emissions |date=8 March 2022 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/reality-check-more-evs-can-mean-fewer-emissions/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2022reality, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Reality Check: More EVs Can Mean Fewer Emissions}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2022}, month = mar, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/reality-check-more-evs-can-mean-fewer-emissions/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }