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FACT BRIEF

Do electric vehicles always help to reduce pollution?

By EconoFact
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NO

The environmental impact of electric vehicles (EVs) depends on how the charging electricity is generated and the outside temperature when the EV is driven. In the U.S., 60% of electricity is generated from burning fossil fuels. Moreover, the extra electric “on the margin” used to charge EVs is likely generated by coal and gas fueled power plants. If there is higher demand for electricity due to EVs, communities downwind from fossil fuel power plants could face higher levels of pollution that outweigh the reduction in tailpipe emissions. Furthermore, an electric vehicle in colder environments can emit more of the greenhouse gas CO2 than an equivalent gasoline car due to decreased battery efficiency in cold weather which requires more charging than in warmer weather. That said, EVs are typically less polluting than their ICE counterparts: a study published by Nature Sustainability in 2020 found that EVs are “less emission intensive” than fossil fuel–based alternatives in 53 world regions representing 95% of global transport.   

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Sources
US Energy Information Administration U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Research in Transportation Economics From Cradle to Junkyard: Assessing the Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Benefits of Electric Vehicles
American Economic Association Are There Environmental Benefits from Driving Electric Vehicles? The Importance of Local Factors
Nature Net emission reductions from electric cars and heat pumps in 59 world regions over time
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EconoFact
EconoFact is a non-partisan publication designed to bring key facts and incisive analysis to the national debate on economic and social policies. Launched in January 2017, it is written by leading academic economists from across the country who belong to the EconoFact Network. It is published by the Edward R. Murrow Center for a Digital World at The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.