Myth 3: EVs are bad for the environment

You’ve probably heard the argument: “EVs are no better than gasoline cars” – and some argue that they are even worse for the environment. They cite the burning of coal for electricity and the use of critical minerals for EV batteries. Here are the facts:

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,  EVs are already responsible for lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than the average new gasoline car. And that will continue to become even more dramatic as our electric grid continues to move away from coal and toward renewables – such as wind power and solar power.

A 2021 study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) bears this out. They found the following trends by area:

• India: where electricity is still predominantly coal powered, battery EVs already produce 19% to 34% fewer lifecycle emissions than gasoline cars.
• China: that margin is 37% to 45 % for fewer lifecycle emissions.
• USA: 60 to 68% fewer lifecycle emissions. 
• Europe: 66 to 69% fewer lifecycle emissions and that number is growing.

Let’s bust this myth once and for all: are EVs bad for the environment? Electric Vehicles are the cleaner choice, no matter where you live. As our electric grid gets greener, so do EVs. They are a climate win.

So the next time you hear someone claim that EVs are bad for the environment, you know the facts, and can steer the conversation in the right direction.

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