How Electric Cars Beat Gasoline Cars on Lifetime Global Warming Emissions

A Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) generate approximately 50 percent fewer lifetime global warming emissions than comparable gasoline cars in the U.S., despite higher initial manufacturing emissions. The report highlights that the emissions benefits of EVs increase as the electricity grid shifts toward renewable energy, noting that the average EV currently produces emissions equivalent to a gasoline vehicle achieving 68 MPG.

• Over their entire life cycle—including raw material extraction, manufacturing, operation, and disposal—battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) produce about 50 percent fewer global warming emissions than comparable gasoline-powered cars.
• While BEV manufacturing creates higher emissions than gasoline car production—primarily due to lithium-ion battery fabrication—these extra emissions are offset within 6 to 16 months of driving, depending on the vehicle size and range.
• Based on 2014 sales data and the regions where they are used, the average EV in the United States produces global warming emissions equivalent to a gasoline vehicle with a fuel economy of 68 miles per gallon (MPG).
• The emissions benefits of EVs vary by region based on the local electricity grid; currently, over 66 percent of Americans live in regions where an EV produces fewer emissions than a 50 MPG gasoline car.
• A transition to a grid composed of 80 percent renewable electricity would significantly reduce BEV impacts, leading to a 25 percent reduction in manufacturing emissions and an 84 percent reduction in driving emissions compared to current levels.
• The report identifies specific ways to further lower BEV manufacturing emissions, including improving battery recycling and reuse, adopting alternative battery chemistries, and using renewable energy to power production facilities.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2015). How Electric Cars Beat Gasoline Cars on Lifetime Global Warming Emissions. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/11/Cleaner-Cars-from-Cradle-to-Grave-exec-summary.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. How Electric Cars Beat Gasoline Cars on Lifetime Global Warming Emissions. 2015. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/11/Cleaner-Cars-from-Cradle-to-Grave-exec-summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=How Electric Cars Beat Gasoline Cars on Lifetime Global Warming Emissions |date=November 2015 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/11/Cleaner-Cars-from-Cradle-to-Grave-exec-summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2015how, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{How Electric Cars Beat Gasoline Cars on Lifetime Global Warming Emissions}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2015}, month = nov, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/11/Cleaner-Cars-from-Cradle-to-Grave-exec-summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }