Life cycle emissions for EU electric cars are three times lower than for petrol cars

Grams of CO2 equivalent per kilometre, by vehicle type and region

Vehicle production

Battery production

Driving

0

50

100

150

200

250

Petrol

Worst case BEV

Best case BEV

Driving emissions vary depending on different countries' fossil fuel reliance in electricity production

Poland

Germany

EU

Spain

France

Petrol cars total

246.9

Sweden

Vehicle production

Battery production

Driving

0

50

100

150

200

250

Petrol

Worst case BEV*

Best case BEV

Driving emissions vary depending on different countries' fossil fuel reliance in electricity production

Poland

Germany

EU

Spain

France

Petrol cars total

246.9

Sweden

Guardian graphic. Source: Transport and Environment. Carbon intensity of electricity grids based on ENTSO 2022 forecast of energy mix and emissions factors for different sources derived from the 2021 UNECE report. Note: recycling savings in production phase excluded from graphic. *battery electric vehicle