Electric
Vehicles

The graph on this page shows a comparison of greenhouse gas emissions from electric vehicles (EVs) and conventional gasoline vehicles. The graph presents data from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the average emissions of greenhouse gases per mile traveled by each vehicle type.

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The graph shows that electric vehicles emit significantly lower amounts of greenhouse gases compared to conventional gasoline vehicles. Specifically, it shows that the average electric vehicle produces 0.37 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per mile, while the average gasoline vehicle produces 0.89 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per mile. This means that electric vehicles emit less than half the amount of greenhouse gases as gasoline vehicles.

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The graph also shows that the emissions from electric vehicles are heavily influenced by the sources of electricity generation in the region where the vehicle is being charged. In regions where the electricity mix is heavily reliant on fossil fuels such as coal, electric vehicles may not result in as significant a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as in regions with a cleaner electricity mix. However, as the electricity grid becomes cleaner over time with more renewable energy sources being added, the emissions from electric vehicles are expected to decrease even further.

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Overall, the graph demonstrates the potential for electric vehicles to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional gasoline vehicles, and the importance of transitioning towards a cleaner energy mix to fully realize the environmental benefits of EVs.