How “green” are electric cars really?

How much CO2 can electric cars really save compared with diesel and petrol cars?

We took into account every possible criterion, such as the amount of CO2 released in generating electricity or burning fuel, as well as the carbon impact of extracting the raw materials for batteries or of building a power station.

We find that electric cars emit on average more than 3 times less CO2 than equivalent petrol cars.

Are electric cars better? How much carbon dioxide do you save by driving one?

It is true that many factors damage the quality of our environment, but one of the planet's main polluters is vehicles, which release large quantities of carbon dioxide.

More and more governments are moving to take action against global warming. Experts around the world are calling for the problem to be tackled sooner and for CO2 emissions into the atmosphere to be reduced.

We did a quick calculation that shows exactly how much CO2 you would save by driving an electric car rather than a combustion-engined one.

The energy density of petrol averages 9 kWh per litre. If your combustion car burns an average of 6 l/100 km, that means that over 100 kilometres you will burn 54 kWh, or 11.4 kg of CO2.

An electric car, meanwhile, uses on average around 20 kWh per 100 km, which means 2.7 times fewer harmful carbon dioxide emissions — so the CO2 released here is only 4.220 kg.

For us this inevitably means that people can become more responsible and more sustainable, and that with small steps we can help protect the environment and reduce the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.

Experts agree that switching to electric cars will not stop global warming on its own, but it has to happen alongside public awareness and the use not only of electric cars but also of electric public transport, including alternative ways of getting around such as cycling and walking. Another important role is played by government support and by the various ways of informing people and providing grants connected with protecting the environment.

The International Energy Agency forecasts that the number of electric vehicles on the roads is expected to reach 145 million by 2030.

It can also be said that electric cars bought in 2030 will cut CO2 emissions fourfold, thanks to an EU grid relying more and more on renewable energy sources.

So if you are in the market for a new car, consider switching to an electric vehicle to reduce harmful emissions — because in conclusion, the emissions of electric cars are 60%–68% lower than those of combustion cars.

Here you can see in real time, through the GigaCharger network, how much harmful emission our planet has been spared.