"Greenhouse gas reduction is no longer a priority for the US government, but if you're looking for a new vehicle and want to buy something with the lowest life cycle carbon emissions, you're best off looking for a compact with a small battery. That's one of the findings of a comprehensive study from a group at the University of Michigan that calculates the overall cradle-to-grave carbon impact for different types of vehicles, including factors like powertrain options, location (within the country), and use patterns."
"If you expected that a gas-powered pickup truck would have the biggest carbon footprint, you'd be right. With a driving profile of 43 percent city driving and the rest highways (no cargo), a pickup will emit about 486 g CO2e per mile. Compared to that, a compact electric sedan with a 200-mile battery has just 17 percent of the life cycle emissions and is responsible for just 81 g CO2e per mile."
"The study, published in Environmental Science and Technology, compares internal combustion engine powertrains with hybrid, 35- and 50-mile range plug-in hybrids, and 200-mile, 300-mile, and 400-mile battery electric powertrains across compact and midsize sedans, small and midsize SUVs, and pickup trucks, using a life cycle assessment model developed by Argonne National Laboratory and data of model year 2025 vehicles from the Environmental Protection Agency."
Greenhouse-gas priorities in US policy have shifted away from reduction, yet vehicle choice still determines life-cycle carbon outcomes. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment calculates emissions for internal combustion, hybrid, 35- and 50-mile plug-in hybrids, and 200-, 300-, and 400-mile battery-electric powertrains across compacts, midsize sedans, small and midsize SUVs, and pickup trucks. Calculations use Argonne National Laboratory’s life cycle model and EPA model-year-2025 vehicle data. Results show full hybrids reduce life-cycle carbon by about 11–13% versus combustion, 35-mile plug-in hybrids reduce emissions by 53–56%, compact 200-mile BEVs emit 81 g CO2e/mile, and gas pickups emit about 486 g CO2e/mile. A user-facing tool enables customized comparisons.
Read at Ars Technica
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