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rdiddly • today at 4:51 PM • 2 replies • view on HN

EVs don't "easily stop" emissions in the US, since the American grid today is powered about 43% by natural gas and 15% by coal. Converting those sources has to happen too.


Replies

judge2020 • today at 5:20 PM

> Converting those sources has to happen too.

True, but the overall carbon reduction in owning an EV over its lifetime is still leagues lower; "Production-weighted average carbon footprints are 183 g CO2e/mi for BEVs; 351 g CO2e/mi for PHEVs; 445 g CO2e/mi for HEVs; and 521 g CO2e/mi for ICEVs." from [0] which does take into account the carbon-emitting percentage of the electrical grid.

Also, see Figure 4[1] in the study which states "Results demonstrate that, even under unfavorable conditions, BEVs still have a 30% lower life cycle carbon footprint."

0: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44458-025-00032-4

1: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44458-025-00032-4/figures/4

yieldcrv • today at 5:42 PM

Yes

Emissions displacement is healthier for where humans actually live, but they do also reduce emissions over their lifetime. you and others can work on improving that further at the other parts of the stack

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