Battery electric vehicles produce the lowest lifecycle emissions when compared to other vehicle types. In 2021, an average medium-sized battery electric vehicle – of over 16 years and 240,000 km – released a total of 30 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e). While production emissions for this type of vehicle were higher than for hybrid or internal combustion engine vehicles, use phase emissions were considerably less. On the other hand, internal combustion engine vehicles emitted a total of 56 tCO₂e, with 47 tCO₂e of the emissions resulting from the use phase.
Lifecycle emissions of combustion and electric vehicles worldwide in 2021, by stage
(in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Characteristic
Production emissions
Use phase emissions
Post-consumer emissions*
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Visual Capitalist. (June 23, 2023). Lifecycle emissions of combustion and electric vehicles worldwide in 2021, by stage (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400381/lifecycle-emissions-of-combustion-and-electric-vehicles-worldwide-by-stage/
Visual Capitalist. "Lifecycle emissions of combustion and electric vehicles worldwide in 2021, by stage (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)." Chart. June 23, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400381/lifecycle-emissions-of-combustion-and-electric-vehicles-worldwide-by-stage/
Visual Capitalist. (2023). Lifecycle emissions of combustion and electric vehicles worldwide in 2021, by stage (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400381/lifecycle-emissions-of-combustion-and-electric-vehicles-worldwide-by-stage/
Visual Capitalist. "Lifecycle Emissions of Combustion and Electric Vehicles Worldwide in 2021, by Stage (in Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Jun 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400381/lifecycle-emissions-of-combustion-and-electric-vehicles-worldwide-by-stage/
Visual Capitalist, Lifecycle emissions of combustion and electric vehicles worldwide in 2021, by stage (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400381/lifecycle-emissions-of-combustion-and-electric-vehicles-worldwide-by-stage/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Lifecycle emissions of combustion and electric vehicles worldwide in 2021, by stage (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph], Visual Capitalist, June 23, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400381/lifecycle-emissions-of-combustion-and-electric-vehicles-worldwide-by-stage/