Electric Vehicles in EU Show 73% Lower Emissions, Study Finds

A new report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) finds that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) produce significantly fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than their fossil-fueled counterparts across their entire life cycle by as much as 73% compared to gasoline cars, if powered by the average European electricity mix expected from 2025 to 2044.

The report, a comprehensive life-cycle assessment (LCA) of passenger cars sold in the European Union, evaluates emissions from vehicle manufacturing, fuel production, usage, and end-of-life processing. It compares various vehicle types including internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), hybrids, plug-in hybrids, BEVs, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

While BEVs outperform all others in emissions reduction, the study warns that the climate benefits depend heavily on real-world energy consumption and the carbon intensity of electricity grids. BEVs running solely on renewable electricity showed emissions of just 52 grams CO₂-equivalent per kilometer—78% lower than gasoline vehicles. In contrast, plug-in hybrids and hybrids achieved only 30% and 20% reductions, respectively.

Fuel-cell vehicles (FCEVs) offered similar emissions to BEVs only when powered by renewable hydrogen. When using hydrogen derived from natural gas, emissions were significantly higher, matching those of hybrid vehicles.

The ICCT emphasizes that phasing out new registrations of ICEVs, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids by 2035 is essential to meet EU climate targets. The report also recommends policy measures such as tightening vehicle emissions standards, decarbonizing battery production, and improving electricity grid sustainability.

Importantly, the study highlights the pitfalls of using outdated or unrepresentative data in life-cycle assessments. Failure to account for evolving electricity grids or full vehicle lifetimes can overestimate BEV emissions by up to 64% and underestimate plug-in hybrid emissions by 32%.

The ICCT urges harmonized LCA methodologies that reflect real-world conditions to guide effective climate policy for road transport.