A new study by the University of Michigan and Ford Motor Company has found that switching to electric pickup trucks has a greater impact on greenhouse gas reductions than switching to other electric vehicles.
The study looked at the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions provided by battery-powered pickup trucks relative to gasoline-powered pickup trucks and the reductions in emissions for battery-powered sedans and SUVs compared to their gasoline-powered versions. Across the board, replacing the gasoline-powered light-duty vehicles with their battery-operated alternatives lowered greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 64 percent over the life of the vehicle.
The study found that while the percentage savings in emissions remained approximately the same across classes, replacing a gas-powered pickup truck with its battery-operated alternative save 74 metric tons of carbon dioxide of the lifetime of the vehicle, compared to 45 metric tons for a sedan and 56 metric tons for an SUV.
“This is an important study to inform and encourage climate action. Our research clearly shows substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions that can be achieved from transitioning to electrified powertrains across all vehicle classes,” said study senior author Greg Keoleian, a professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability and director of the U-M Center for Sustainable Systems.
Light duty vehicles account for 58 percent of the U.S. transportation sector emissions, with pickup trucks accounting for 14 percent of light-duty vehicle sales in the United States in 2020.
“This study expands upon previous studies that have focused on comparing battery-electric vehicle sedans to their internal-combustion-engine or hybrid counterparts,” said Keoleian. “We report emissions for vehicle production, use, and end-of-life stages on a per-mile basis and over the total vehicle lifetime. In addition, we analyzed the regional variation in emissions considering differences in electricity grid mixes and ambient temperatures, and we also explored the effects of the rate of grid decarbonization on emission reduction.”
The study also found that while battery-operated vehicles have larger greenhouse gas emissions in their manufacturing than internal combustion engine vehicles due to battery production, the impact is offset by savings in their operation.