The Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emission, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model is a full life-cycle model for evaluating the energy and emission impacts of various vehicle and fuel combinations. The first version of the GREET model was released in 1996. Since then, the model has been updated and expanded to include additional vehicle types and fuels. The results below are from GREET Model 2012 v.2. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent) are compared for 2035 vehicles, including conventional, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, extended-range electric, battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles. Different fuels and/or grid mixes are shown.

Well-to-Wheels Greenhouse Gas Emissions for a 2035 Mid-Size Car
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Note: At the top of the figure, a 2012 mid-size car is shown for comparison.
Renewable electricity includes biomass, hydro, wind, solar, and geothermal.

Supporting Information

Well-to-Wheels Greenhouse Gas Emissions for a 2035 Mid-Size Car
FuelsGHG emissions
per Mile
Vehicle Technology
2012 Gasoline430Conventional Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles
Gasoline220
Diesel210
Natural Gas200
Corn Ethanol (E85)170
Cellulosic E8566
Cellulosic Gasoline76
Gasoline170Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Cellulosic E8548
Cellulosic Gasoline58
Gasoline & U.S./Regional Grid170Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (10-mile Charge Depleting Range)
Gasoline & Renewable Electricity150
Cellulosic E85 & Renewable Electricity44
Cellulosic Gasoline & U.S. Regional Grid76
Cellulosic Gasoline & Renewable Electricity51
Gasoline & U.S./Regional Grid180Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (40-mile Charge Depleting Range)
Gasoline & Renewable Electricity100
Cellulosic E85 & Renewable Electricity30
Cellulosic Gasoline & U.S. Regional Grid120
Cellulosic Gasoline & Renewable Electricity35
BEV100 Grid Mix (U.S./Regional)160Battery Electric Vehicles (100-mile and 300-mile)
BEV100 Grid Mix Renewable Electricity7
BEV300 Grid Mix (U.S./Regional)165
BEV300 Grid Mix Renewable Electricity8
Distributed Natural Gas190Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
Nat. Gas (Central) w/ Sequestration110
Coal Gasification (Central) w/ Sequestration100
Biomass Gasification (Central)73
Wind Electricity (Central)36
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Program Record (Offices of Bioenergy Technologies, Fuel Cell Technologies and Vehicle Technologies), "Well-to-Wheels Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Petroleum Use for Mid-Size Light-Duty Vehicles," Record #13005, April 25, 2013.

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