Enhancing political cooperation on the transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs).

 

Decarbonizing the transportation sector is imperative if we are to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. It is also a deeply challenging task that will require rapid adaptation and change. Because of the long lifetime of vehicles, it is urgent to immediately begin the transition to those capable of delivering deep GHG reductions. To that end, this briefing identifies very low-GHG passenger vehicle and fuel pathways. To summarize the key points:

 • Only battery and hydrogen fuel-cell EVs have the potential to be very low-GHG passenger vehicle pathways. The GHG emissions from manufacturing batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines are more than outweighed by the GHG savings from the greater efficiency and cleaner energy supply of EVs compared to conventional vehicles. This is likely true for buses and trucks, as well. 

• There is no realistic pathway to full decarbonization of internal combustion engine vehicles. Biofuels and other alternative fuels for conventional cars do not necessarily reduce GHG emissions compared to gasoline and diesel. Natural gas vehicles do not offer climate benefits over diesel and gasoline, especially when considering the short-term warming impacts of methane. The supply of genuinely low-GHG biofuels, biogas, and e-fuels will not be sufficient to replace liquid fuel demand in the road sector. While plug-in hybrid EVs can partly operate on electricity, in practice drivers still rely heavily on the gasoline engine. 

• The GHG performance of EVs will continue to improve. The proportion of renewables in the electricity mix is increasing globally, and in many countries the hydrogen supply will become lower-GHG, as well. Battery and hydrogen fuelcell EVs sold in 2030 will reduce GHG emissions by 70% and 60%, respectively, compared to conventional cars over their lifetime. 

• The transition to EVs is urgent. Tackling the climate crisis requires significant efforts toward a zero-GHG economy by mid-century. Because of long vehicle lifetimes, new passenger car sales must be heavily electric by 2030 in order to achieve deep decarbonization of the transport sector by 2050. This is even more important for longer-living buses and trucks.

 

Decarbonizing roadtransport by 2050Zero-emission pathways forpassenger vehicles