When using an electric vehicle, neither carbon gases nor pollutants are emitted. Producing sufficient electricity to charge its batteries does, however, generate C02 emissions.
These can be quantified through establishing the so-called “well-to-wheel” analysis of the electric vehicle. This is not an easy calculation to perform as it depends on a country’s energy mix, that is to say the manner in which the electricity has been produced: if it comes from a nuclear or thermic (gas, fuel or coal) power station or from a renewable energy source (wind, water or solar…). So, the carbon footprint of the electric vehicle in China would be 8 times greater than in France.
It is even trickier to make a direct comparison with a thermic vehicle because, essentially, electricity is not stored like a liquid fuel and it is very difficult to establish its source at the point at which the batteries are being charged. However, figures put forward by experts and published in studies do argue in favour of the electric vehicle, which, overall, emits less C02 than thermic vehicles.
