With energy from coal generation, CO2 emissions from an EV are over 31% LESS.

Electric  Vehicles  vs  Gasoline  Vehicles:  CO2  Emissions  from  Coal-Fired Power Plants

Electricity is required for “fueling” electric vehicles (EVs), AND for the production of gasoline.

13.5 lbs. of CO2(1)

10.91 kWh(3) “0” Emissions

2.46 lbs. of CO2(5) 6 kWh(4) 19.64 lbs. of CO2

(6)

24.5 lbs. of CO2(1)

Total CO2 emissions from generating(1)(4), refining(5) and burning(6) one gallon of gasoline total 35.6 lbs.

CO2 emissions from generating 10.91 kWh(1), enough to power the Focus Electric 31 miles(3), total 24.5 lbs., over 31% LESS than the gas-burning equivalent vehicle.

A Ford Focus can travel 31 miles on one gallon of gas(2). The Ford Focus Electric requires 10.91 kWh to travel that same distance of 31 miles(3).

The average U.S. Power Plant emits 13.3 lbs. of CO2 to produce 10.91 kWh of electricity(7), enough to power the Ford Focus Electric EV 31 miles(3).

Electric  Vehicles  vs  Gasoline  Vehicles:  CO2  Emissions  based  on  Power Plant Fleet Average

The average U.S. Power Plant emits 7.3 lbs. of CO2 to produce 6 kWh of electricity(7), enough to refine one gallon of gasoline(4).

Based on the U.S. power plant fleet average, CO2 emissions from an electric vehicle are more than 2 times LESS than a gasoline vehicle.

Coupled with 2.46 lbs. of CO2 emitted during the oil refining process(5), plus 19.64 lbs. of CO2 emitted when one gallon of gasoline is burned(6), total CO2 emissions from a gasoline Ford Focus = 29.4 lbs., 2.2 times higher than the emissions from an equivalent EV.

"You  have  enough  electricity  to  power  all  the  cars  in  the  country  if  you  stop  refining  gasoline"    "You  take  an  average  of  5  kilowa3  hours  to  refine  [one  gallon  of]  gasoline,  something  like  the  Model  S  can  go  20  miles  on  5  kilowa3  hours."  

Elon  Musk,  Business  Insider,  October  26,  2011(8)  

Footnotes and References

1)  The EPA states that average CO2 emission rates in the United States from coal-fired generation are 2,249 lbs./MWh of carbon dioxide, or 2.25 lbs./kWh (http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/air-emissions.html).

2)  The U.S. EPA reports that the combined MPG rating for the 2.0L, 2015 Ford Focus is 31 MPG. (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/)

3)  The U.S. EPA reports that the 2015 Ford Focus Electric requires 32 kWh to travel 100 miles. (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/). Therefore, 9.92 kWh will power the vehicle 31 miles or the same distance that the gas-burning equivalent will travel using one gallon of gasoline. Accounting for a 10% loss during the conversion of AC to DC power by the vehicle’s on-board charger, a supply to the vehicle of 10.91 kWh is required.

4)  6 kWh are required to refine one gallon of gasoline. (http://greentransportation.info/life-cycle/electricity-to-refine-gallon-gasoline.html) (http://gatewayev.org/how-much-electricity-is-used-refine-a-gallon-of-gasoline)

5)  2.45 lbs. of CO2 are emitted from refining one gallon of gasoline (http://www.afteroilev.com/Pub/CO2_Emissions_from_Refining_Gasoline.pdf)

6)  19.64 lbs. of CO2 are produced from burning a gallon of gasoline that does not contain ethanol. (http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=307&t=11)

7)  On average, electricity sources emit 1.222 lbs. CO2 per kWh. (http://www.carbonfund.org/how-we-calculate) (EPA, eGRID and Summary Tables; http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/egrid/)

8)  Business Insider, Oct. 26, 2011 (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/10/26/businessinsiderelon-musk-and-chris-.DTL&ao=4)