Ren et al. Nat Commun. 2023; 14: 3164 | Highlighted on Fuelcons
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are seen as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional gasoline cars, yet their climate benefits come with a delay due to the higher initial carbon footprint in manufacturing compared to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). Examining extensive vehicle data from China, the authors of this study found that the time it takes for BEVs to offset their carbon emissions varies from instant (production year) to 11 years, averaging 4.5 years. Crucially, 8% of China’s BEVs made between 2016 and 2018 don’t repay their carbon debt within the eight-year battery warranty. To improve this, the authors propose that the focus should shift from blindly accelerating BEV adoption to more targeted, efficient substitution of ICEVs.
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