Carbon Footprint of the Electric Vehicle

The methodology for calculating life cycle assessments – and, as part of this, CO₂ balances (greenhouse gas balances) – is based on the globally valid ISO 14040 standard for life cycle assessment (LCA). This standard stipulates that all relevant processes over the entire life cycle must be taken into account. The procedure and results must be verified by an independent expert. Volkswagen has been preparing life cycle assessments since 1996, for the first time in connection with the Golf III, and has continuously optimized the methods, processes and data basis since then: Starting from the parts list with around 5,000 parts and the material database, the data is imported into the LCA software. There, the resource input and emissions are calculated for all materials and processes and aggregated as a result for the production of the vehicle. Ultimately, a life cycle assessment model for vehicles comprises of around 40,000 processes, which then map the entire value chain for the production of the vehicle.

Representative and up-to-date data are absolutely essential for a realistic result. At Volkswagen, we use a database that is updated annually, comprising of several thousand data records, which are regularly checked. This is supplemented by specific data from our most important suppliers. We subject the entire balance sheet of a vehicle to several days of testing by an independent expert with a final certification. The ID.3⁰¹ balance sheet was certified by TÜV Nord.

Using current models in the compact class, we created TÜV-certified balance sheets to compare an electric vehicle (Battery Electric Vehicle – BEV) with a respective modern gasoline and diesel model. To ensure a fair comparison, the models were selected so that equipment and performance are as similar as possible.

Even more important than improving the supply chain is the BEV’s charging power in the usage phase. Even with today's European electricity mix, the BEV significantly reduces CO₂ emissions. With the further planned energy turnaround, the electricity mix will continuously become lower in CO₂, which will have a correspondingly positive effect on the BEV’s CO₂ balance. No other energy source has already been decarbonized as much as electricity, and for no other energy source is a further decarbonization so clearly outlined. This makes the BEV the technology that is already showing the greatest climate effect today and whose CO₂ reduction will be even greater in the future.

Since renewable electricity is a valuable resource, it should be used as efficiently as possible. For mobility applications, direct electricity use in the form of battery-electric driving is more efficient than all other alternatives. Therefore, locally generated, CO₂-neutral electricity should be used with priority in BEVs (and plug-in hybrid vehicles – PHEVs). Economic analyses of different energy sources and drives, including possible imports of eFuels or eH2 from sun- and wind-rich regions, also show that battery-electric driving is the most cost-effective solution for the majority of our customers.

E-mobility already enables a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions in road traffic. The production of the BEV has a major influence. There have already been significant CO₂ improvements, particularly in the battery, and further potential is seen, which Volkswagen will push with its partners in the value chain.

The use of green electricity in the usage phase has an even greater effect – with green Naturstrom electricity from Volkswagen, individual customers can already drive in an almost CO₂-neutral manner today. To make this effect as widespread as possible, the energy turnaround must be driven forward further and quickly by policymakers and electricity producers. E-mobility makes it possible to achieve a significant CO₂ effect with technology that is already available today, and thus makes an important contribution by Volkswagen on the way to achieving the Paris climate targets.