With the popularity of new energy vehicles, many people are curious: Are they really more environmentally friendly than fuel vehicles? In 2023, the global sales of new energy vehicles reached 14.28 million, accounting for 22%. In China, this proportion has exceeded 50%, which means that for every two new cars sold, one is a new energy vehicle.

So, how much lower is the carbon emissions of new energy vehicles than fuel vehicles? From the entire life cycle of production, use to recycling, research shows that the carbon emissions of fuel vehicles are about 1.5 times that of new energy vehicles, and this gap will continue to widen as the proportion of clean energy increases.

Carbon emission advantages of new energy vehicles

Automobile is an important source of carbon emissions. In China, emissions in the transportation sector account for 7.5%, among which fuel vehicles are the main contributors. One of the major advantages of new energy vehicles is zero exhaust emissions.

According to Shandong Electric Power Company data, new energy vehicles can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 9.78 kilograms by traveling 100 kilometers. Assuming that 6 million new energy vehicles travel 1,000 kilometers per month, it can reduce carbon emissions by 7.04 million tons per year, which is equivalent to the average annual emissions of nearly 1 million people.

Among new energy vehicles, pure electric vehicles have the best carbon reduction effect. Research shows that pure electric vehicles reduce carbon emissions by 21.38% compared to fuel vehicles, while plug-in hybrid vehicles only reduce by 5.40%.

In addition, the longer the mileage of new energy vehicles, the more obvious the environmental advantages. China's low-carbon automobile action plan in 2021 shows that the "74%" of the carbon emissions in the passenger car industry come from the use stage, so new energy vehicles are more environmentally friendly than fuel vehicles after long-term use.

Life cycle emissions: New energy vehicles still win

From raw material mining, manufacturing, use to recycling, the overall carbon emissions of new energy vehicles are lower than those of fuel vehicles. For example, Brazilian studies show that the carbon emissions of pure electric vehicles throughout the life cycle are 151g/km, while those for fuel vehicles are 291g/km, nearly twice the increase. American studies have also found that fuel vehicles emit 260g/km throughout their life cycle, while new energy vehicles emit 180g/km.

However, during the manufacturing stage, fuel vehicles have lower carbon emissions. The main reason is that the production process of new energy vehicle batteries will generate higher carbon emissions. But from the perspective of the entire life cycle, the emissions of new energy vehicles are still far lower than those of fuel vehicles.

The recycling phase is also crucial. At present, the carbon emissions of new energy vehicles after scrapping account for 4.5% of their entire life cycle. But battery recycling can reduce manufacturing emissions by 34%. As of October 2023, China has built more than 10,000 battery recycling outlets to promote battery recycling and environmentally friendly treatment.

Clean energy enhances the environmental protection advantages of new energy vehicles

Some people are worried that new energy vehicles still rely on thermal power for electricity. Indeed, currently “69.95%” of China’s electricity comes from coal-fired. But even so, the energy consumption of new energy vehicles is still 42% lower than that of fuel vehicles.

At the same time, the proportion of clean energy in China is rising rapidly, with renewable energy currently accounting for more than 30%, reaching 25% by 2030 and 80% by 2060. The government has also introduced policies to accelerate the development of photovoltaics, wind power and nuclear energy, and promote the application of hydrogen energy.

Hydrogen-energy automobile: future possibilities?

In addition to electrification, hydrogen-energy vehicles have also attracted attention. The energy density of hydrogen energy is 3.2 times that of gasoline and has zero carbon emissions, which is regarded as the ultimate clean energy source.

Japan is leading in the field of hydrogen energy, and Toyota has 6,000 patents, accounting for half of the world. China is also making efforts to build 428 hydrogen refueling stations, making it the world's number one. By 2035, it is expected that there will be more than 5,000 hydrogen refueling stations, and the production and sales growth rate of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles has exceeded 70%.

New energy vehicles are the future trend

Whether it is direct emissions or full life cycle emissions, new energy vehicles are more environmentally friendly than fuel vehicles. With the development of battery recycling and clean energy, this advantage will be further expanded.

In the future, hydrogen energy may become a new choice, but at present, pure electric vehicles are still the best solution. So, would you choose new energy vehicles or look forward to the popularization of hydrogen energy? Welcome to discuss!