New U-M Cradle-To-Grave Analysis Shows That BEVs Have Lowest Lifetime Emissions

Choosing a more electrified vehicle will reduce drivers’ planet-harming greenhouse gas emissions regardless of where they live in the contiguous United States, according to a new study from the University of Michigan. The research team calls it the most comprehensive analysis to date, providing estimates of emissions per mile driven across 35 combinations of vehicle class and powertrain. The models included everything from conventional gas pickups to hybrid SUVs and fully electric sedans along with dozens of other variations. To make their findings useful to drivers, the group also created a free online calculator that allows people to estimate emissions based on what they drive, how they drive and where they live.

“Vehicle electrification is a key strategy for climate action. Transportation accounts for 28% of greenhouse gas emissions and we need to reduce those to limit future climate impacts such as flooding, wildfires and drought events, which are increasing in intensity and frequency,” said Greg Keoleian, senior author of the new study and a professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability, or SEAS.

“Our purpose here was to evaluate the cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas reduction from the electrification of vehicles compared with a baseline of gasoline-powered vehicles,” continued Keoleian.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, was supported by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the U-M Electric Vehicle Center. Researchers said the information can guide drivers in their decision making while also helping the automotive industry and policymakers.

Keoleian, who directed the work, said that while EVs face headwinds from federal policy the industry remains committed to electrification. Ford Motor Company recently announced plans for a new affordable EV platform in what it called a Model T moment. The project team included Keoleian, research specialists Christian Hitt and Timothy Wallington, postdoctoral fellow Maxwell Woody, professor Alan Taub, who directs the U-M Electric Vehicle Center, Ford research scientist Hyung Chul Kim, and lead author Elizabeth Smith, who began the work as a master’s student at U-M.

“The government is backing off incentives, like the electric vehicle tax credit, but the original equipment manufacturers are heavily invested and focused on the technology and affordability of EVs,” said Keoleian, who is also a co-director of the U-M Center for Sustainable Systems, or CSS. “EVs are becoming the dominant powertrain in other parts of the world and manufacturers recognize that is the future for the U.S.”

The researchers conducted a cradle-to-grave analysis, which considered emissions from manufacturing, driving and disposal. They looked at how different powertrains, vehicle classes, driving behaviors and locations shaped outcomes. That included conventional internal combustion engines, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and battery electrics. The vehicles were modeled as generic versions expected to appear in 2025, which reflect new vehicles likely to be available on the market. Driving behavior included city and highway travel as well as how often plug-in hybrids operated on electricity rather than gasoline. Location mattered because colder temperatures reduce range and efficiency and because electricity grids differ across the country.

Accounting for these variables allowed the team to compare different vehicles on equal terms. In this way they could weigh a gas-powered pickup in Pennsylvania against a fully electric compact sedan in New Mexico. The study found that battery electric vehicles had lower lifetime emissions than any other type in every county of the contiguous United States. Gas pickups were the highest emitters at 486 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per mile while hybrid pickups reduced that total by 23 percent and fully electric pickups cut it by 75 percent. One striking comparison came from hauling tests, in which a battery electric pickup carrying 2,500 pounds still emitted less than 30 percent of a gas pickup with no cargo.

The chart below shows how greenhouse gas emissions of different types of vehicles compare with a gas-powered pickup truck, according to the new U-M research. Grams of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted per mile are listed in parentheses. Powertrain abbreviations are: ICEV = Internal combustion engine vehicle; HEV = Hybrid electric vehicle; PHEV = Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle; BEV = Battery electric vehicle. Numbers after the powertrain abbreviation indicate the electric mileage range.

Compact sedans powered by electricity proved to be the lowest emitters at just 81 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per mile, or less than one fifth of a gas pickup. Vehicles with smaller batteries also had lower lifetime emissions than those with larger packs because battery production contributes significantly to overall impact. That highlights one of the study’s most important insights, according to Keoleian. Choosing an electric vehicle reduces emissions regardless of location, but choosing the smallest model that suits a driver’s needs makes the reductions even larger.

The chart below shows how greenhouse gas emissions from pickup trucks hauling the listed weights compare with a gas-powered pickup truck, according to the U-M research. Numbers in parenthesis indicate grams of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted per mile. Powertrain abbreviations: ICEV = Internal combustion engine vehicle; HEV = Hybrid electric vehicle; PHEV = Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle; BEV = Battery electric vehicle. Numbers after the powertrain abbreviation indicate the electric mileage range.

“The thing is really matching your vehicle with your needs,” Keoleian said. “Obviously, if you’re in the trades, you may need a pickup truck. But you can get a battery electric pickup truck. If you’re just commuting to work by yourself, I’d recommend a sedan BEV instead.”

The team’s online calculator allows users to generate results tailored to their situation. The research article is open access and free for anyone to read.

Global Human-Caused Climate Change

Global human-caused climate change refers to long-term shifts in Earth’s climate that are primarily driven by activities such as burning fossil fuels, clearing forests, and large-scale agriculture. These activities release greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun, intensifying the natural “greenhouse effect” and causing the planet’s average temperature to rise. Through adoption of battery electric vehicles, these harmful effects can be reduced.

This warming alters weather patterns and climate systems worldwide. It contributes to more frequent and severe heat waves, rising sea levels due to melting ice and thermal expansion of oceans, shifting precipitation patterns that can cause droughts or floods, stronger storms, and disruptions to ecosystems. Scientists emphasize that while Earth’s climate has changed naturally throughout history, the rapid pace and scale of change observed since the Industrial Revolution is unprecedented and overwhelmingly linked to human activity.

At its core, human-caused climate change is the result of modern societies’ dependence on fossil energy and land use practices that alter the balance of carbon and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Addressing it requires reducing emissions, removing excess carbon from the atmosphere, and adapting to the changes already underway.

EVinfo.net’s Take

EV critics frequently claim that EVs are not the most eco-friendly vehicle, due to mining of lithium and other materials for EV batteries, and the battery production. Time after time, in study after study, this has been proven wrong.

One example is EVinfo.net’s July 2025 article about how the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) released a groundbreaking report assessing the environmental impact of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the European Union. The report found that the life-cycle emissions of EU’s BEVs are 73% lower than ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles.

We congratulate U-M on its important research, leading the US and the world to a cleaner, cost-saving electric transportation future. We agree with the researchers that drivers should use smaller vehicles when possible. This will not only save the environment, but will save you money at the same time.

Too many times we have seen huge pickups, whether gas, electric, or hybrid, making grocery runs. A better option would be a small BEV sedan for such trips. Also, we recommend carpooling, combining trips, walking, biking and using public transportation as much as possible. E-bikes are growing fast as a commuter option.

The infographic below from Elements and Visual Capitalist is another example of how EVs are the most eco-friendly vehicle, which has been proven time and time again. As a lifelong environmentalist, it was the EV’s eco-friendly quality that first drew me to these amazing vehicles. But after making the switch from gas, I experienced first-hand the tremendous long-term cost savings that go along with EV adoption. EVs need far less maintenance, and refueling gas vehicles is nearly always more expensive than charging an EV.