The Tesla Model S Apparently Puts Out More Whole-Life Emissions Than A Petrol Supermini
Oh dear. The electric-powered Tesla Model S has been found to produce more whole-life carbon dioxide than a petrol supermini.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which whom Lamborghini is working on future battery tech, studied a group of cars’ production methods, exhaust emissions, potential for recycling and any emissions produced by power plants for the quantity of electricity required, if any.
While the researchers say that emissions from distant power plants are the lesser of two evils when it comes to city centres, the Model S was responsible for 226g/km of CO2 during its lifetime compared to just 192g/km for the humble Mitsubishi Mirage supermini.
Admittedly, we know which one of the two we’d rather put on our driveways, but 34g/km is a significant difference. It’s fresh evidence to back the theory that electric cars are actually no cleaner overall than small petrol ones, although we’d like to see a fairer-looking comparison between, say, a Nissan Leaf and a Volkswagen Golf.
Against a more comparable car, the BMW 750 xDrive, the Model S was reportedly some 159g/km better for the planet over its entire several hundred thousand kilometre lifetime.
It also matters how the Model S in the study gets its energy. In the American Midwest, it may be coal-fired power stations. Parts of northern Europe, for example, are now heavily supplied by renewables. The argument will rumble on…
Source: Auto Express
Comments
Study is flawed in many ways. Here is a fun one — they count the emissions required to produce the electricity to run the Tesla, but they don’t count the emissions required to produce the fuel for the Mirage. Even without the emissions from pumping it out of the ground and transporting it (by ship!) halfway around the world, refining a gallon of gasoline still requires the use of about 6.5 kWh of (oh the shame!) electricity.
If you count well-to-wheels on one side, count it on both sides.
well, England is gonna have a hard time if this study gets worldwide, after the ban they issued..
And this actually comes as a surprise to people?
Time to piss off some people… who’s with me?!
I still laugh about the Toyota Prius transport on a boat. The boat emissions make the Prius far more poluting than cars built in country.
And this members of CT, is why I’m against EVs…
If you try hard enough with your ICE, you’ll have a cleaner environment with the good old fuel, rather than using electric, which is produced how? Greenhouse Gases!
Thank you and good night!
No. “Good old fuel” has already driven the environment into the ground, not electric. You can’t use renewable energy for a gas car, but you can for electric (No greenhouse gases)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHSHAHAHAJAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAJAHA
I’m yet to understand the ideology these people. They’re not doing any better with these stupid things.
So… a large, 4-door, sports sedan pollutes a bit more than a tiny, cheap, economy car.
Good to know.
I came here for a breakdown of what actually causes that but ok.