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🔋 MIT just published the most comprehensive EV emissions study yet, analyzing every US zip code with real driving data.

Battery EVs cut lifetime emissions 40-60% vs gas cars in most locations. Even on the dirtiest grid in the country, they still come out ahead. The study used DOE's GREET lifecycle model, which already includes battery manufacturing. So the "but what about making the batteries?" question is answered: building an EV produces 50-80% more CO2 upfront, but it pays that back over the vehicle's life.

Your driving habits matter as much as where you live. High mileage, city driving, and larger vehicles all boost the EV advantage. Cold weather cuts efficiency on a frigid night but barely dents annual savings.

The "who benefits from the doubt?" question has a paper trail. The API has run anti-EV messaging since 1967. Koch-funded groups planned $10M/year campaigns. AFPM dropped $10M+ on "Don't Ban Our Cars" ads in 2024 swing states.

news.mit.edu/2026/us-drivers-e…

#EVs #Climate #Science


For most US drivers, EVs offer emissions benefits and cost savings

In most U.S. zip codes, electric vehicles are cost-competitive with their gas-powered counterparts, according to a new study.
MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
#science #climate #evs

⁂ L. Rhodes reshared this.

in reply to jcrabapple

Su_G
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Su_G
• •
A really interesting study! Love it that they looked at the "who benefits from the doubt?" question & followed the paper trail to provide answers that will surprise no one here… 🤔🙏🏻
in reply to jcrabapple

Ron Martin-Siebler ZHOU
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Ron Martin-Siebler ZHOU
• •
Thanks for the update! Here at my faculty we have this conversation like A LOT. Would make sure to save this ref# for a future about the batteries. Would say still it's better if more people ride bicycles (zero emission vs something), but seems like EV is still making a dent!
in reply to jcrabapple

andrew773
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andrew773
• •
electric buses and electrified railways should come first but private EVs are better in every way than private ice vs. I call mine my Biden mobile. They were basically the cheapest new cars available for a few years during the Biden ev credit years. I believe it cost about half what the average new car costs.
in reply to jcrabapple

Edward
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Edward
• •
I'm still anti ev but that's because I'm anti vehicle unless you really need it, don't buy an ev if you have a working petrol car you only occasionally use.
in reply to jcrabapple

Crystal Huff (they/them)
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Crystal Huff (they/them)
• •

I wonder if US cities will start charging extra for old cars like London has. Do you know of any US cities that have proposed such changes? I have only seen items on London and UK suburbs.

apnews.com/article/london-car-…

in reply to jcrabapple

Paul_stilgar
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Paul_stilgar
• •

Nothing replaces the test of the garage .

Put an ev in a closed garage , stay inside and start it .
Wait 10 mins
Put an ice car in a closed garage , stay inside and start it .
Wait 10 mins . Huh forget the next test.

#ev

#ev
in reply to jcrabapple

Todd Thomas
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Todd Thomas
• •

I wonder how much better EVs would come out if you also took into account all the emissions along the whole fuel pipeline to get it to the gas station.

@timbray

@Tim Bray 🇨🇦
in reply to jcrabapple

Orrock LXXXVI XLVII
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Orrock LXXXVI XLVII
• •
just shared with my Sierra Club group in SF Bay. Lots of NIMBY progs.
in reply to jcrabapple

Urban Hermit
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Urban Hermit
• •

best thing I have read in a month.

Between solar power (big wind and distributed panels) and electric cars, stopping a run away green house effect is entirely going to happen. No more climate despair. Your grand children will not have to play in air conditioned domes and call that "going outside".

And it happened because really smart people continued and continue to care about efficiency - which changes the economics in favor of solutions smart people care about.

⇧