Electric cars aren’t emission-free, but driving one in the US produces roughly the same emissions as a gasoline vehicle rated at 91 miles per gallon.
Source: Yes, electric vehicles are greener than gas cars — even when they use dirty power
“That means, perhaps counterintuitively, that “green” cars begin life with a heftier carbon footprint than their “dirty” counterparts. A medium-sized electric car leaves the factory responsible for 33%-57% greater emissions than a comparable internal combustion engine (ICE) one, the International Energy Agency says.
But since EVs are significantly cleaner to operate, their environmental debt is repaid relatively quickly once they hit the road.”
“It found that trading in a conventional, 32-mpg sedan for an electric one would slash greenhouse-gas emissions by 52%. “
“The UCS’s analysis puts the tipping point at 21,300 miles (for the aforementioned electric car and sedan), less than two years of driving for the typical American.”
“Per the UCS, more than 90% of the US population lives in an area where driving the average EV yields lower emissions than a 59-mpg ICE vehicle, the most fuel-efficient one available.”
