Are electric cars better for the environment?

Every year, more of us are switching to electric cars, but are they actually better for the planet?

We’re told that driving electric is “cleaner” or “greener,” but if you’ve ever wondered what that really means, you’re not alone.

With Clean Air Day 2025 just around the corner, we’re taking a proper look at how electric vehicles stack up when it comes to their impact on the environment.

In summary:

Electric vehicles come with an environmental footprint, but over their lifetime, they’re significantly better for the planet than petrol or diesel cars. While EVs produce more emissions during manufacturing, mainly due to battery production, they quickly offset this once on the road thanks to zero tailpipe emissions and much lower carbon output when charged, especially from renewable sources. Over a typical vehicle lifespan, an EV can cut emissions by up to two-thirds.

Most EV batteries last well over a decade, and even after their driving days are over, they’re being reused and recycled under strict UK laws. With advances in technology and better recycling systems, their long-term impact is shrinking fast.

Clean Air Day calls for collective action from individuals, businesses, and government to prioritise cleaner transport and healthier air. EVs are one of the most powerful solutions to drive that change.

Contents:

1. What is Clean Air Day?
2. How does air pollution from transport harm our health?
3. Are electric cars really better for the environment?
   1. EVs have lower lifetime emissions
   2. Manufacturing: Why EVs start dirtier
   3. Driving: the clean-up begins
   4. When does an EV become cleaner than petrol?
4. What happens to EV batteries when they wear out?
   1. What happens when the battery isn’t good enough for driving?
   2. Are there rules about recycling EV batteries?
5. The verdict: are EVs greener?
6. Why Clean Air Day matters
7. Government support is key
8. Ready to drive change?

What is Clean Air Day?

Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, held every year to raise awareness and inspire action. This year, it takes place on Thursday 19th June 2025.

Air pollution is linked to up to 43,000 deaths each year in the UK. According to the World Health Organization and the UK Government, it’s the biggest environmental threat to our health.

Clean Air Day is more than just a reminder to crack open a window and take a deep breath, it’s a day dedicated to inspire action to tackle air pollution at its source.

How does air pollution from transport harm our health?

Cars and vans are one of the biggest contributors to outdoor air pollution.

Breathing in this pollution can:

• Damage your lungs or make breathing harder
• Worsen asthma and allergies
• Increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and dementia
• Harm children’s lung development

Reducing vehicle emissions is one of the most effective ways to protect public health.

Are electric cars really better for the environment?

Let’s break it down looking at their full lifecycle, from how electric cars are made, to how their powered, to what happens when they’re no longer on the road.

EVs have lower lifetime emissions

Yes, electric vehicles require more energy to build, mainly due to battery manufacturing. This gives them a larger carbon footprint upfront compared to petrol or diesel cars. But that changes quickly once they hit the road.

Over their full lifespan, EVs produce significantly fewer emissions than petrol or diesel vehicles.

Manufacturing: Why EVs start dirtier

The biggest reason EVs start with a bigger environmental footprint is battery production. Batteries require mining and processing of materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, and assembling them takes a lot of energy.

Research by the University of Eindhoven puts battery production emissions at around 75kg of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of battery capacity.

That means a 60 kWh battery (typical for many EVs) creates roughly 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ before it even hits the road.

In contrast, a petrol or diesel creates approximately 2.5 tonnes of emissions from manufacturing as they have fewer complex drivetrains.

But remember combustion engines keep emitting CO₂ every mile they drive. Electric cars don’t.

Driving: the clean-up begins

Once the EV is on the road, it starts to repay that carbon cost, fast.

• The most obvious benefit of EVs is that they produce no tailpipe emissions. No nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), no carbon monoxide (CO), no fine particles (PM2.5).
• Even when powered by electricity from the national grid, EVs still emit 30–70% less CO₂ per mile than petrol or diesel vehicles, depending on where you live and how clean the local energy mix is.
• If charged with 100% renewable energy (like using your home EV charger with solar panels), operational emissions drop to near zero.

When does an EV become cleaner than petrol?

On average, an EV offsets the extra carbon used to build it within 1 to 2 years of driving. The exact timeline depends on:

• How many miles you drive per year - the more you drive, the faster the breakeven.
• How clean your electricity is - charging from renewables shortens the breakeven point.

For example, a Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI petrol emits around 120g of CO₂ per kilometre when driven. A comparable electric model, like the Volkswagen ID.3, emits 0g of CO₂ at the tailpipe.

But if we factor in UK electricity generation emissions, the ID.3’s real-world footprint is closer to 40–50g CO₂ per kilometre, depending on how the electricity is produced.

Now, let’s compare emissions over a typical UK car lifetime of 150,000 miles (about 241,000 km):

• VW Golf 1.5 TSI petrol
  120g/km × 241,000 km = 28.9 tonnes of CO₂
• VW ID.3 electric (charged from UK grid)
  40–50g/km × 241,000 km = 9.6 to 12 tonnes of CO₂

Switching to an EV like the ID.3 could cut your lifetime driving emissions by 17–19 tonnes of CO₂ and even more if you charge using 100% renewable energy, such as from home solar panels. That’s the equivalent of saving around 35 one-way flights from London to New York.

What happens to EV batteries when they wear out?

This is a common concern. Surely big batteries equal big waste? Not quite.

Most electric car batteries are built to last at least 10–20 years, often much longer. Manufacturers usually guarantee them for 8 years or 100,000 miles, but many are still going strong long after that.

Even after their driving range drops below what’s ideal for cars, batteries often get a second life.

What happens when the battery isn’t good enough for driving?

Once a battery can’t hold as much charge as it used to, that doesn’t mean it’s useless.
There are two main paths from here:

1. Recycling
   EV batteries are full of valuable materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel. Instead of ending up in landfill, they get collected and broken down, so those materials can be reused which minimises waste and saves energy.
2. Giving it a second life
   Just because a battery isn’t great for driving anymore doesn’t mean it can’t be useful. Many old EV batteries get a second life powering things like homes, schools or offices, acting as big rechargeable storage banks for solar or wind energy.

Some UK companies, like Connected Energy, are already doing this with batteries from brands like Renault and Nissan. Similarly, Jaguar Land Rover, in collaboration with Wykes Engineering, has developed a 2.5MWh second-life battery energy storage system using EV batteries, with plans to expand to 7.5MWh.

Are there rules about recycling EV batteries?

Yep, and they’re strict. In the UK, under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations, car manufacturers are legally responsible for making sure old batteries are collected and properly recycled. This means:

1. They don’t go to landfill.
2. Their parts get reused.
3. It lowers the environmental impact of EVs even more.

Electric vehicle batteries last a lot longer than most people think, and even after their car days are over, they can still be put to good use. With advancements in recycling technology and stricter laws, we’re getting better at making sure they don’t go to waste.

The verdict: are EVs greener?

If you're wondering whether electric cars are better for the environment — the evidence is clear. They are.

From lower lifetime emissions, to zero tailpipe pollution, to recyclable batteries, electric cars are one of the most effective tools we have to cut transport emissions and improve air quality. And they’re getting better every year.

Why Clean Air Day matters

Last year, thousands joined Global Action Plan’s call for cleaner transport access for all. It was the first petition handed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, signalling a demand for government-level change.

Better air quality means:

• Less pollution in towns and cities
• Healthier lungs (especially for the most vulnerable)
• Lower emissions, especially if you power your vehicle with renewables

Government support is key

To make real, lasting change, we need more than just good intentions. We need smart policy, good infrastructure, and support for everyone to make greener choices.

That means:

• Incentives to make EVs more affordable, such as the OZEV grant.
• More charge points across the UK.
• Greener electricity powering it all.

The good news is that we’re moving in the right direction. Battery technology is getting better, charging is faster and easier, solar is cheaper, and more people than ever are making the switch.

Ready to drive change?

Clean Air Day is about more than just awareness, it’s about action.

Switching to an EV is one of the most impactful ways to reduce your carbon footprint, protect public health, and support a cleaner future.

At evec, we’re here to make that switch simpler and more affordable. Whether you're looking for a beautiful home charger, a solar-compatible system, or a fleet solution, we’re helping thousands of people power up with cleaner transport (without the premium price tag).

Because clean air shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be for everyone.