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An all-electric vehicle (EV) does not produce emissions from the tailpipe, but there are upstream emissions (also called well-to-wheel emissions) of greenhouse gases from electricity production. Using electricity production data by source and state, the Alternative Fuels Data Center has estimated the annual carbon dioxide (CO₂)-equivalent emissions of a typical EV. EVs charging in Vermont are estimated to produce the fewest emissions – oil and gas make up only 1.2% of the electricity sources in the state while cleaner sources such as nuclear, hydro, biomass, wind, and solar make up the rest. West Virginia's electricity production is 95.7% from coal, making it the state with the most well-to-wheel CO₂-equivalent emissions. The national average is 4,815 pounds of CO₂-equivalent emissions for a typical EV per year as compared to the average gasoline-powered car which produces 11,435 pounds of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually.

Annual Well-to-Wheel Emissions from a Typical EV by State, 2015

Fact #950 Dataset

Supporting Information

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