Debunking a common rally cry from the anti-BEV crowd.
For every 10,000 miles driven, regardless of the fuel used at the power plant, a BEV generates half the CO2 as an ICE and costs 3X less per mile.
- Since 2022, the US has been making more energy with renewables than with coal.
- There are 135 refineries in the US generating as much CO2 as 41 million homes.
- An ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) generates CO2 tailpipe emissions its entire life.
- An ICE generates approximately 2x more CO2 and costs more than 3x the price per mile.
- After the power plant, BEVs generate no CO2 tailpipe emissions.
Constants
- Burning 1 lb. of coal makes 2 lbs of CO2
- Generating 1 kWh of electricity burns 1.5 lbs. of coal and generates 3 lbs. of CO2.
- Refining 1 gallon of gas burns 7.5 lbs. of coal, generating 15 lbs. of CO2.
- Burning 1 gallon of gas in a car generates 20 lbs. of CO2.
- BEVs go 4 miles on 1 kWh of energy.
BEV per 10,000 miles on coal = 3.75 tons of CO2
- 2,500 kWh to charge the car (@ 3 lbs CO2 per kWh)
- 3,750 lbs. of coal burned to make the electricity.
- 3.75 tons of CO2 from power plant emissions.
- $475 = 2,500 kWh X 19¢, the average US price per kWh.
ICE per 10,000 miles on coal = 7.5 tons of CO2
- The average US car gets 22 mpg and burns 454 gallons of gas.
- To produce and burn 454 gallons of gas:
- 2,270 kWh of energy to drill, frack, extract, refine, and transport it to the pump.
- 3.4 tons of CO2 to produce the gas.
- 4.1 tons of CO2 from tailpipe emissions.
- 454 gallons of gas averages $1,589 (22 mpg x $3.50)
What is MPGe (Miles Per Gallon Equivalent)?
Every EV window sticker lists a number labeled MPGe. This is a rating of the electrical energy used per mile compared to the mpg from the chemical energy in a gallon of gas. MPGe ranges from 90-150, with the average EV rated at 120 MPGe. Yes, this means an average EV gets 120 mpg.
When driving an EV, it is fair to compare kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity used per mile, to miles per gallon of gas. You add kWh to an EV battery when you charge it, and you use them up as you drive. The average price of a kWh in the US is $0.19 (19¢)
MPGE Math
An average EV gets 3.5 miles per 1 kWh of electrical energy.
Proof:
A gallon of gas contains 33.7 kWh of chemical energy.
Divide the window sticker MPGe of 120 by 33.7 kWh per gallon to get 3.56 miles per kWh.
A “fuel” cost of $0.19 per kWh for 3.5 miles = 5.4¢ per mile.
Coal, ICE, Gas and CO2
Carbon dioxide is made of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. The carbon comes from the coal, and the oxygen comes from the combustion air. During all fossil fuel combustion, when a carbon atom is released, it combines with two oxygen atoms to create a CO2 molecule. Combining the mass of three atoms is what enables the carbon in one ton of fuel to produce more than a ton of CO2.