On the Lifetime Emissions of Conventional, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are considered an alternative to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) for reducing tailpipe CO ₂ emissions. However, their higher initial manufacturing pollution raises concerns about their lifetime CO ₂ emissions. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are traditionally viewed as intermediate solutions in terms of emissions. Previous research on emission comparisons among these vehicle types was often confined to specific regions. This study conducts a worldwide assessment of the lifetime CO ₂ emissions of the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV, a commercially available EV, and globally compares it with an ICEV, two types of HEVs, and three types of PHEVs, all with equivalent vehicle performance. The analysis utilizes the dynamic programming (DP) algorithm to theoretically optimize the lifetime emissions of HEVs and PHEVs. The findings indicate that, with DP optimization, HEVs and PHEVs can achieve lower worldwide lifetime emissions than both comparable EVs and IC engine vehicles without sacrificing vehicle performance.