Electric cars are considered to be zero-emission vehicles. Is this actually the case? Although no carbon dioxide is burned while driving, the production process should not be forgotten. The best yardstick to verify the environmental performance of an electric car is therefore the car's carbon footprint. Find out what the CO2 emissions of electric cars are from this article.
Electric cars and CO2 - do electrics emit greenhouse gases?
Electric cars are seen as emission-free because they do not emit greenhouse gases into the environment while driving, as petrol or diesel cars do. However, this does not mean that they do not contribute to CO2 emissions at all. To find out, you only need to check your car's carbon footprint - a measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by a vehicle. It is measured not only during the life of the vehicle, but also during the production process. It covers the entire period during which the car is made, from the extraction of raw materials to disposal. So, as you can guess, the very process of manufacturing electrics will contribute to carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.
When analysing the carbon footprint of an electric car, it is important to take into account the country in which it travels. Electrics in Poland will emit more CO2 than in Switzerland, for example, and this is all due to the energy source. In our country, a significant proportion still comes from fossil fuels, so overall carbon dioxide emissions will be higher than in countries that use renewable energy. This is an important aspect that affects the CO2 emissions of electric cars. 
How much CO2 do electric cars emit?
Consultancy Radiant Energy Group (REG) published a report that included one graphic that is interesting in the context of this topic. It depicted the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions after choosing an electric car over a petrol car. Poland, as one of two countries, was below zero, which means that the change from petrol to electric vehicles may actually seem unprofitable. So what is the actual CO2 emission of an electric car? According to calculations, it is on average around 160g CO2/km in Poland. By comparison, in Sweden it is less than 40 g CO2/km.
Of course, each vehicle model will have a slightly different carbon footprint. On top of this, the CO2 emissions from the production of the batteries must be taken into account, as well as the need for recharging (the electricity from the socket also comes from coal-fired power stations). As mentioned earlier, the main source of energy in Poland is coal, so emissions during operation increase significantly.
Is an electric car that emits CO2 still green?
Since electrics emit CO2, the question arises: can they really then be considered environmentally friendly? However, after counting all the results, one can conclude that despite the rather unfavourable conditions in Poland, the electric car is still the most environmentally friendly form of motorised travel on the roads. This mainly depends on how long such a vehicle is used. Its emission level decreases with the kilometres driven. Driving an internal combustion car emits CO2 not only during production, but also during each trip. With an electric car, the more you drive, the greater the environmental benefit. According to a study by the International Council on Clean Transporation (ICCT), only electric (and hydrogen) cars are able to reduce CO2 emissions. Even hybrid vehicles are not that revolutionary in terms of environmental performance.
Scientists are of the opinion that we need to take radical steps to protect our environment. It is important not to exceed the threshold of a 1.5°C increase in global temperature. The European Union is therefore trying to reduce CO2 emissions wherever possible, including in transport (which, incidentally, is responsible for twenty-something per cent of the EU's carbon dioxide emissions). Electric cars are not a perfect solution, but they are the best yet. 
Which electric car emits the least CO2?
An electrician is not the same as an electrician. The extent to which it will be environmentally friendly depends on the efficiency of the battery, i.e. how long a distance it can travel. It is not only the range that counts, but also the lifetime of the car. As mentioned earlier, the positive impact on the climate increases with the kilometres driven. It is estimated that an electric car becomes viable after around 48,000 kilometres, and when it has covered 200,000 kilometres, we can already say that it is a greener option than diesel or petrol.
Today, many brands are already involved in the production of electric cars, and the market leaders include Tesla, BYD and Renault-Nissan (according to Automotive Group data). Undoubtedly the most popular electric car is the Tesla Model 3, with a range of up to 530 kilometres. In Europe, popular models are those from Volvo, Audi, BMW or Mercedes. Compared to Tesla, they have a slightly shorter range, but it is still a satisfactory performance. The Volvo XC 40 with a range of 416 km is comparable to the Mercedes EQC with a range of 414 km. The BMW i4, on the other hand, boasts a range of 493 kilometres. Slightly weaker in this context is the Audi Q4 e-tron with 349 kilometres.
The CO2 emissions of electric cars in Poland are much higher than in other European countries, but this does not mean that it is not worth investing in electrics. They are still the only hope for reducing emissions in transport.
