Engineering Explained works through whether electric cars are really worse for the environment than gasoline cars. It covers battery production emissions, the electricity mix used to charge, and how long an EV takes to break even on lifetime emissions.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN commenters link it repeatedly as a clear, number-based rebuttal to the claim that EVs are worse for the climate than gas cars.
“This video crunches the numbers pretty thoroughly”HN comment, 2020
“does a decent job explaining though I feel he leaves a few parts out for the sake of clarity”
Explains EV versus gas emissions depending on location
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The article doesn't talk about greenhouse gas emissions, so the power grid and fuel source isn't really relevant to the point, especially since oil is an extremely small part of the energy mixture in most places.[1] If they were talking about greenhouse gases, then the answer seems to be that it depends on where you live and how/what you drive, but an electric vehicle almost always produces less emissions than an equivalent gas powered one. [2] does a decent job explaining though I feel he leaves a few parts out for the sake of clarity. For example, driving a P100D isn't the equivalent of driving the average car. It's more like driving a sports sedan (like a BMW M5), so those sorts of vehicles would probably be a more fair comparison. In the same vane, the whole US car fleet includes lots of SUVs and other trucks, which if there were equivalent electric models, would obviously not go as far as a Leaf. It would be great if there was a US calculator that worked like [3] does for the UK so that we could do the same sort of comparison based on the mix where we live. [1] link [2] this video [3] link
RecommendsPopeDotNinjaJun 2019
“Here's a video I liked on the carbon costs associated w/ gas & electric cars.”
Liked video on carbon costs with sources provided
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Here's a video I liked on the carbon costs associated w/ gas & electric cars. Check out video's sources for further reading. this video -- "Are Electric Cars Worse For The Environment? Myth Busted" -- Engineering Explained
RecommendsbennyelvAug 2019
“An easily digestable version of this calculation is here”
Easily digestible calculation showing EVs repay manufacturing deficit early
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Citation needed. The literature I've seen suggests that an electric vehicle easily makes back any deficit quite early in its life. An easily digestable version of this calculation is here: this video
RecommendsSohcahtoa82May 2021
“Engineering Explained did a good video doing the math behind the carbon footprints of ICE versus EV over the life of the car”
Math on lifetime carbon footprint of EV versus ICE
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Nobody thinks that EVs have a zero carbon footprint. But over the lifetime of the car, they have a lower footprint than ICE. Yes, they have a higher footprint than ICE to manufacture, but even if you get your power from coal, over the long term their carbon footprint is lower. And if your power comes from a renewable source, then the break-even point is less than two years. Engineering Explained did a good video doing the math behind the carbon footprints of ICE versus EV over the life of the car: this video
RecommendstheluketaylorAug 2022
“good breakdown”
Good breakdown of build energy versus lifetime emissions
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Yes, it takes more energy to build a BEV than an ICE car. It's not massively different and the lifetime emissions of a BEV are still lower than an ICE car even on a pretty dirty grid. good breakdown: this video
Cites ited_ballsNov 2018
Cited for emissions depending on electricity source
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I depends on you location and driving in the city e.g. Prius can have less total CO2 emission than Tesla S if the electricity comes from fossil fuels. this video
Cites itguntarsNov 2018
Source for manufacturing footprint of gas vehicles
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Producing a gas vehicle is equivalent to two years of average driving as far as carbon footprint is concerned, according to this one guy on YouTube ( this video )
Cites itrohit2412Dec 2018
State by state emissions breakdown disputing commenter's conclusion
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I'm not sure why this guy doing a state by state breakdown comes to a different conclusion than you have. this video I can find you more sources that say the same thing he does.
Cites ited_ballsJan 2020
“average electric car is in the green after 4.8 years”
Average electric car breaks even on emissions after 4.8 years
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this video There are other videos on the subject in this channel (battery recycling, EV vs ICE efficiency). According to the video, average electric car is in the green after 4.8 years. If you already own a Prius that could be true, but a Dodge Ram is unlikely.
Cites itDiederichOct 2020
“This video crunches the numbers pretty thoroughly”
Thorough number crunching refuting claim EVs are worse
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> And electric cars are actually responsible for even more emissions - not from burning fuel, obviously, but just manufacturing it releases more carbon dioxide than an average gas-powered car will in its 25 years lifecycle. I don't believe this is true. This video crunches the numbers pretty thoroughly: this video "The main takeaway from this video: Electric cars certainly aren't any worse for the environment than gasoline cars regardless of where your energy comes from, and in the vast majority of cases, they are vastly superior to gasoline cars."
Cites itnpsimonsFeb 2021
Evidence that breakeven varies by location but EVs win
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Going to need to see numbers to back these claims; what I've seen says otherwise, granted the breakeven point is different depending on where you live: this video
Cites itkevanMar 2021
“this[1] video aggregated some source studies.”
Aggregates source studies on manufacturing and operating emissions
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For anyone looking to research that, this[1] video aggregated some source studies. tl;dw: estimates are between 2-17 metric tons of CO2 emissions to produce a new car (SUVs are more). And during operation an average car emits 5.2 metric tons of CO2 per yer. For a concrete example, a 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid at 52mpg emits 170g/mile of CO2[2]. A 2000 Camry 4cl at 24mpg emits 340g/mile[3]. Assuming you drive an average 13,500 miles/year[4] the break-even point for CO2 is about 4.5 years. If you have the 2000 V6 Camry at 20mpg then the break-even is closer to 2.5 years. [1] this video [2] link [3] link [4] link
Cites itmasswerkOct 2021
Used as source for battery production emissions offset time
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Regarding the credibility of said statement, also mind that – depending on estimates and your local mix of energy production – the rather high CO2 footprint of long-range battery production is only offset after 3.5 – 15 years of average use [0]. Where average use is US millage, with millages being typically lower in Europe. So Tesla Europe will not be saving the world. What it really does, is relocating the source of emissions. [0] Compare this video and studies referred to in the description.
Cites itkemillerMar 2022
“Engineering Explained did the math”
Shows BEVs beat best gas cars even on coal power
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Engineering Explained did the math: this video Spoiler: Well-to-wheels, BEV cars are better than the best gas cars (top end prius) even if the source electricity is 100% coal. The best is still not driving, but it's a step in the right direction.
Cites itjwestburyJul 2023
“it would take less than five years (on average) for the electric car to have less emissions than the old, ICE vehicle”
Detailed analysis of EV payback versus keeping an old ICE car
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Engineering Explained went into this in some detail in a video about five years ago[0]. The key takeaway: If two people were driving the same car, and one sold their car and bought an electric car whilst the other kept driving the old car, it would take less than five years (on average) for the electric car to have less emissions than the old, ICE vehicle. There are certainly some other moral questions here, involving treatment of labour in places where, e.g., we mine for lithium, but those are a bit harder to quantify. The quantifiable aspects are pretty clear, and electric cars are the clear winner. 0. this video
Cites itjwestburySep 2023
“demonstrating how quickly EVs overtake ICE vehicles in total emissions, including during manufacture”
Rebuts claim by showing how quickly EVs overtake ICE emissions
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Stop parroting this nonsense. Here's an Engineering Explained video from five years ago demonstrating how quickly EVs overtake ICE vehicles in total emissions, including during manufacture: this video Here's a peer-reviewed study which explicitly looks at lifetime emissions including gathering of raw materials, and finds that EVs have far lower lifetime emissions: link Here are the results of a Reuters analysis which also looks at total lifecycle emissions, including resource extraction: link
