Common questions
Six common questions about electric cars, answered with the simulator's figures for Belgium. Every computed result comes from the model; the other figures come from the sources. The references A1, A2… and [1], [2]… point to the assumptions and sources on the Method page.
Does an electric car really emit less?
Yes, over its whole life, in Belgium as in most European countries. Here, a new electric compact emits 16 t against 44 t for a petrol one over 200,000 km, battery included: 63% less, depending on grid decarbonisation (A6) and battery origin (A8). The ICCT finds −73% on the EU average, with a more decarbonised grid (78 g/kWh on average over the car's life) and 240,000 km (A13) [8, 14].
From how many km a year?
In Belgium, a new electric car overtakes a new petrol one after about 27,000 km driven in total (under two years at 15,000 km/year). Replacing a petrol car that could still run for 5 years with a new electric one, bearing all its manufacturing (A3), only pays off above about 15,500 km/year; from about 10,000 km/year if it could still run for 8 years (the electric car's manufacturing is then spread over more years) [1, 8, 11].
What about building the battery?
It weighs heavily, and it is counted. The 55 kWh battery of a compact car emits about 4 tCO₂e to build (73 kgCO₂e per kWh, the European sales average). In all, building the electric car emits 11.4 t, against 7 t for a petrol one. This surplus is paid back on the road, after about 27,000 km in total in Belgium, with real-world consumption, not WLTP (A10). No recycling credit is deducted (A8, A9) [7, 8, 12, 16].
Is a used electric car better?
With the default profile, yes. Under the economic allocation convention (A2), with a 6-year-old electric car you carry about 22% of its manufacturing: 4.2 t over those 5 years, against 10.5 t by keeping your car; a new electric car would do worse than keeping it (13 t). Default profile: replacing a petrol car that would run for another 5 years, at 12,000 km a year in Belgium, 15% depreciation a year (A2) [10, 11].
What about plug-in hybrids?
They only cut emissions clearly when plugged in: over 200,000 km in Belgium, about 30% less than a petrol car with half of the km driven on electricity (private owners: 45 to 50%). With only 15% electric driving (the top of the company-fleet range, 11 to 15%), a plug-in hybrid emits only about 3% less than a petrol car (A11) [15, 16].
Does my country change the answer?
Yes, through the electricity that charges the battery. Over 200,000 km, an electric compact emits about 70% less than a petrol one in France and Norway, 63% in Belgium, about 50% in Germany and 35% in Poland, where the grid is still very carbon-intensive. Each grid's planned decarbonisation is included; pick your country in the first question (A5, A6) [4, 5, 6, 13].