GAS VS ELECTRIC CARS: WHICH ONE IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT? MATHS EXPLAINED

There has been an ongoing debate around electric cars, and if they are actually worse for the environment as opposed to traditional gas-powered cars. But, just how true is this?

Well, to start off, do you really think that the world's top countries are putting a ban on gas-powered cars completely blindly, as if they are unaware that electric cars are potentially worse for the environment? Obviously not!

As a diehard petrolhead and fuel-guzzling V8 enthusiast, you're probably quite upset that gas-powered cars are getting hit hard and, quite frankly, coming to an end. But it's not all doom and gloom, and by no means is it a reason to spread fake news about them being better than electric cars for the environment. Here's why...

Making electricity to power electric cars is by no means perfect, and most of it still comes from old-school coal power plants, which are by no means good for the environment. However, the thing about electricity is that it becomes a lot more efficient the more you create. So, the more electricity you create, the less energy it takes to create it. If you compare electric cars "emissions" to that of a regular gas-powered car, the gas-powered car averages out at 4.6 tonnes of greenhouse gasses per year. The average electric car produces around 1.5 tonnes per year, and that's if the electric car gets its electricity exclusively from coal sources. If you were to take into consideration the rising percentage of cleaner energy sources, such as hydroelectric, solar and wind power, the number drops significantly.

But, now you're probably wondering about the energy required to produce the batteries for electric cars that have to be replaced frequently? Well, replacing batteries frequently might have been the case many years ago, but what people fail to note is that modern-day electric cars have a single battery lifespan and guarantee of around eight years! And, although they do require more energy to manufacture initially, it quickly breaks even in terms of emissions when you compare it to a gas-powered car as well.

In terms of overall production energy required for a performance electric car, such as the Porsche Taycan, it equates to around 70% worse for the environment than your average gas-powered car to make. That, unfortunately, is true. But there is a major flaw in that argument.

You can't compare one of the highest performance electric cars with an average gas-powered car. Instead, you have to compare it with a rival such as a BMW M6. Now, when you compare them, the difference is around 40% worse for the environment to produce. But that's not the end of the equation either. In terms of damage to the environment between a Taycan and an M6, it is estimated that the Porsche Taycan will break even within one year to that of the M6.

So in conclusion, it goes without saying that electric cars are more harmful to the environment in terms of manufacturing, but that's only the birth of a car. The logic behind it is that it is far better for the environment to mass-produce cars that require more energy to manufacture, but run exceptionally efficiently for the rest of their lifespan.

Take a look at the video below by the YouTube channel, Ideal Cars, on Gas VS Electric Cars... Which One Is Worse For The Environment?

Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!