The EPA and major environmental studies conclude that gas vehicles contribute to roughly 29% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, including trucks and the transportation sector.
Kamala Harris Abruptly Shifts Position On Electric Vehicles (msn.com)
I have covered this before – the total transportation sector is about 29% of carbon emissions (up from 28%), with about 10% going to semi-trucks, trains, ships and aircraft – and the remaining 18-19% from personal small vehicles and small vehicles used by business.
71% of carbon emissions come from other sources – mostly electricity generation and industrial processes, which are often on-site electrical generation.
It is likely a surprise to learn that about 1/5th of emissions come from small vehicles – considering that most media coverage of this topic implies that if we all switched to EVs, we’d magically end carbon emissions. Further, to “break even”, some studies suggest many EVs need to be drive 100k +/- miles before reaching a breakeven point on emissions.
But it’s worse – the lifetime energy costs from raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, and eventual end of life recycling of vehicles add to the total emissions.
Switching to EVs, one study estimated, might reduce carbon emissions by a mere 5-10% – probably not the kind of number you were expecting?
