EV CO2 Emissions by Source

EV CO₂ Emissions by Energy Source

An electric vehicle (EV) puts out nothing at the tailpipe. Where the climate impact actually shows up is upstream, in the grid that feeds the charger. You get the well‑to‑wheel figure from emissions (g/km) = consumption (kWh/100km) × grid intensity (gCO₂/kWh) ÷ 100. Take an EV that uses 17 kWh/100 km in Brazil. The SIN (Sistema Interligado Nacional, operated by ONS) runs at roughly 80 gCO₂/kWh because hydro and wind dominate the mix, so that car ends up at about 13.6 g/km.

Plug the same car into the German grid (~350 gCO₂/kWh) and it climbs to ~60 g/km. On a coal‑heavy Chinese grid (~600 gCO₂/kWh) it hits ~102 g/km. That is still under a modern gasoline car (~130‑180 g/km), though the lead has shrunk considerably. To project kg CO₂/year and line up scenarios side by side, multiply by your annual mileage.

Applications

It comes in handy for ESG reporting and fleet decarbonization plans. You can also pit an EV against ICE or hybrid options across different countries, or work out what rooftop solar would do (self‑consumed energy can drop grid intensity to around 40 gCO₂/kWh).

FAQ

Why is Brazil's number so low? Roughly 80% of the SIN is hydroelectric and wind. Both barely emit anything while they run.

Does this include battery manufacturing? No, the figure here is well‑to‑wheel only. A full life‑cycle analysis (LCA) usually tacks on 5‑9 tons of CO₂ embedded in the battery, spread out over the years you drive the car.

How do I find my country's grid intensity? The IEA and Ember both publish it, and so does your national grid operator (ONS in Brazil, ENTSO‑E in Europe).