How green are electric vehicles?

Electric vehicles

Increased efforts to decarbonise transport networks in the UK has led to a significant growth in production and sales of electric vehicles (EVs).

Producing about half the greenhouse gas emissions of an equivalent vehicle using petrol or diesel. EVs are seen by many as a viable way to achieve the UK’s zero emissions mandate.

UK’s zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate

The UK’s zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate sets out how many new zero emission cars and vans need to be produced each year up to 2030.

The aim is that 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain will be zero emission by 2030. This will increase to 100% by 2035.

What is a zero emission vehicles (ZEV) vehicle?

Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) are vehicles that produce no exhaust emissions or greenhouse gas emissions from their onboard power source.

This includes plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), battery-electric vehicles (BEV), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Emissions associated with running an EV

Electric vehicles (EVs) still generate some emissions during operation. This is because they rely on electricity, and producing this electricity often involves CO2 emissions.

But these are still much lower than those from running a petrol or diesel vehicle. Looking ahead, as the UK energy grid decarbonises, so these emissions will reduce.

CO2 emissions associated with electric vehicle manufacture

Additional emissions from EVs stem from the production of their batteries, which require non-renewable rare metals that are challenging to mine.

With different metals being trialled, and improved technologies and regulations for their extraction being explored, it is hoped that these issues will improve overtime.