# Electric cars, assessment of green nature vis a vis conventional fuel driven cars

**Authors:** Satish Vitta  
**arXiv:** [2104.14287](https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.14287)  
**Date:** 2021-04-29  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2104.14287v1/

## Key points

- The study compares the energy requirements and emissions of electric vehicles (EVs) to conventional fuel-driven cars.
- The objective is to assess the potential of EVs in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050.
- A simple analytical procedure based on open literature data was used to determine the embodied energy and emissions of almost all aspects of putting together an EV and operating it.
- Significant technological developments are required for EVs to become environmentally better placed compared to combustion engine-based cars.
- The combined embodied energy for Nd- and Dy-metals production, which are required in electric motors and battery assembly for 150 million cars projected to be on the road in 2050, is approximately 1500 TWh, with CO2 emissions exceeding 600 MT.
- The main contributor to emissions from EVs is the battery assembling process which releases around 379 MT of CO2-e gases.
- Both EVs and combustion engine vehicles' emissions scale linearly with the number of vehicles indicating that a breakeven is not possible with currently available manufacturing technologies.
- The study highlights that progress towards emission control may be stalling globally, it needs acceleration given climate change's severity.
- Significant technological advancements are necessary for EVs' environmental sustainability compared to conventional fuel-driven cars.
- It suggests exploring alternative materials for batteries or developing more efficient battery manufacturing processes to reduce emissions.
- The findings can inform policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers in developing strategies for sustainable transportation systems that align with global climate goals.

## Summary

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the energy requirements and emissions associated with electric vehicles (EVs) compared to conventional fuel-driven cars. The objective is to assess the potential of EVs in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). A simple analytical procedure based on open literature data was used to determine the embodied energy and emissions of almost all aspects of putting together an EV and operating it. The results show that significant technological developments are required for EVs to become environmentally better placed compared to combustion engine-based cars. The combined embodied energy for Nd- and Dy-metals production, which are required in electric motors and battery assembly for 150 million cars projected to be on the road in 2050, is approximately 1500 TWh, with CO2 emissions exceeding 600 MT. This includes carbon intensity of electrical energy required to run these EVs. In comparison, the projected emissions due to fossil fuels, gasoline production, as well as burning it in combustion engines is only 412 MT, far less than that due to EVs. The main contributor to emissions from EVs is the battery assembling process which releases around 379 MT of CO2-e gases. Both EVs and combustion engine vehicles' emissions scale linearly with the number of vehicles indicating that a breakeven is not possible with currently available manufacturing technologies. The study highlights that while progress towards emission control may be stalling globally, it needs acceleration given climate change's severity. Therefore, this type of analysis becomes imperative in assessing how much progress has been made so far towards achieving sustainable transportation systems. In conclusion, this study emphasizes that significant technological advancements are necessary for EVs' environmental sustainability compared to conventional fuel-driven cars. It also suggests exploring alternative materials for batteries or developing more efficient battery manufacturing processes to reduce emissions. The findings of this study can inform policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers in developing strategies for sustainable transportation systems that align with global climate goals.