Study Challenges EU Math on Electric Car Emissions

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich are questioning how the EU assesses the climate benefits of electric vehicles.

The EU expects the shift to electric cars to cut CO₂ emissions by 188 million metric tons by 2030, while one of the studies reviewed by the university estimates savings of only around 80 million metric tons, according to Bild.

The researchers reviewed 19 studies covering 47 scenarios and found that electric cars produce an average of 41% less CO₂ over their entire life cycle than cars with internal combustion engines. Depending on production methods and the electricity mix, however, emissions ranged from 89% lower to 21% higher.

The researchers are therefore calling on the EU to consider a vehicle’s entire life cycle – including production, electricity generation and recycling – rather than only tailpipe emissions when assessing its environmental impact.

They also criticized regulations that favor particular technologies and called for greater flexibility

Under the researchers’ proposal, manufacturers would collect data on emissions over the entire life cycle of their vehicles by 2029. The data would then be gradually incorporated into EU assessments, with a binding life-cycle standard taking effect in 2032.

(mja)