This is actually quite reassuring to read, as I have certainly heard the arguments from detractors that the total reduction is negligible. Sounds like that is no longer the case, even if it once was. Of course, that’s usually the path that technology follows.
I do know that we’ll be looking at a Tesla SUV in a few years, along with a PowerWall and Tesla Solar Roof tiles.
Originally shared by Jim Benson
One common misconception people have about electric vehicles is about the carbon emissions produced during manufacture. Forbes quotes this study by the Union of Concerned Scientists:
“The Union of Concerned Scientists did the best and most rigorous assessment of the carbon footprint of Tesla’s and other electric vehicles vs internal combustion vehicles including hybrids. They found that the manufacturing of a full-sized Tesla Model S rear-wheel drive car with an 85 KWH battery was equivalent to a full-sized internal combustion car except for the battery, which added 15% or one metric ton of CO2 emissions to the total manufacturing. However, they found that this was trivial compared to the emissions avoided due to not burning fossil fuels to move the car. Before anyone says “But electricity is generated from coal!”, they took that into account too, and it’s included in the 53% overall reduction.”
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-vehicles/electric-vehicles/life-cycle-ev-emissions#.WX8VU58pDqA