EV vs. Gas Car CO₂ Calculator — per-km & Lifetime

How the Comparison Works

• Operational (per km): EV = (kWh/100km ÷ 100) × grid kg/kWh × (1 − renewables%). Gas = (L/100km ÷ 100) × kg/L × (1 + uplift%).
• Manufacturing: EV = vehicle kg + (battery kWh × factor) + any replacements; Gas = vehicle kg. Both are spread across lifetime km.
• Break-even distance: the km where EV cumulative emissions become lower than gas. If EV per-km ≥ gas per-km, no break-even.

All factors are editable so you can mirror a report or your local grid/fuel figures.

Understanding EV vs. Gas Car CO₂ Emissions

Comparing electric vehicles (EVs) and gasoline cars in terms of carbon emissions is more nuanced than it may first appear. While EVs have no tailpipe emissions, the electricity they consume still has an indirect carbon footprint depending on how it is generated. Gasoline cars, by contrast, emit carbon dioxide directly from burning fuel, and those emissions are typically higher per kilometer — but the manufacturing of batteries for EVs adds a front-loaded carbon cost. This calculator helps you visualize both sides of that trade-off.

Over the full life cycle of a vehicle, two main emission sources dominate: manufacturing and operation. Vehicle manufacturing includes the energy used to produce materials like steel, aluminum, and plastics, plus — for EVs — the additional energy and raw materials needed for battery production. Battery manufacturing typically emits between 60 and 120 kg CO₂ per kWh of capacity, though this depends on factory efficiency and energy mix. For a 60 kWh battery pack, that could mean 4–7 metric tons of CO₂ upfront.

Operational emissions depend on how the vehicle is powered in daily use. A gasoline car emits roughly 2.3 kg CO₂ per liter of fuel burned, with 10–20% additional upstream emissions from oil extraction, refining, and transport. EVs, on the other hand, emit based on grid intensity: if electricity comes from coal, emissions may approach 0.7 kg CO₂ per kWh; in renewables-dominated regions, it can be near zero. As power grids decarbonize over time, EVs tend to improve automatically, while gasoline vehicles cannot.

The break-even point is where an EV’s cumulative lifetime emissions fall below those of a comparable gasoline car. Depending on grid mix, vehicle size, and driving distance, this can occur anywhere from 10,000 to 60,000 km of driving. Beyond that point, the EV continues to offer lower ongoing emissions per km, with greater advantages in cleaner electricity regions or when paired with rooftop solar.

Ultimately, the goal is not perfection but awareness. Transparent comparisons like this one help drivers, planners, and policymakers understand where the biggest emission reductions can be achieved — and how technology, energy sources, and driving habits combine to shape the true environmental footprint of our mobility choices.