Myth:
Electric vehicles are barely any less polluting than their fossil fuel counterparts, so it’s a waste of time promoting them.
Fact:
Electric vehicles are way less polluting than vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. Even if they are powered entirely by ‘dirty’ electricity from the grid, they still produce 70 percent fewer emissions than cars powered by fossil fuels. If their energy is sourced purely from renewables, then their emissions are next to zero. And, of course, if the electricity is sourced from rooftop solar, then the cost to the owner is negligible. The author, for example, has paid just A$2.87 to run his car in Sydney since buying it in March 2024. He expects never to have to pay to a fuel bill again while driving within a 150km range of his home. Even outside of Sydney, free charging can sometimes be found.
The author’s car, taking advantage of a free charger in the NSW town of Bathurst. [Source: Ken Enderby]
Sources:
Zeke Hausfather, “Factcheck: How electric vehicles help to tackle climate change,” Carbon Brief, 13/5/19
Auke Hoekstra, The Underestimated Potential of Battery Electric Vehicles to Reduce Emissions,” Joule, 19/6/19
“Are electric vehicles definitely better for the climate than gas-powered cars?” MIT Climate Portal, 13/10/22
Jasper Jolly, “Do electric cars really produce fewer carbon emissions than petrol or diesel vehicles?” The Guardian, 23/12/23
Jo Lauder, “Are electric cars better for the environment than fuel-powered cars? Here’s the verdict,” ABC News, 27/5/24
Martha Lawrence, “Driving green: the environmental impacts of EVs,” EDF, 13/1/25