The "EVs Are Big Polluters" Circus Is Back In Town - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica addresses renewed criticism of electric vehicles (EVs), sparked by comments from Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota, who argued that in Japan—where electricity generation relies heavily on thermal power plants—producing EVs could increase carbon emissions compared to hybrids. This statement was seized upon by anti-EV groups to claim that EVs are worse polluters than hybrids or gasoline cars. However, the article highlights that such claims often stem from misinformation or ideological bias against EVs and fail to consider the full lifecycle emissions of vehicles. Scientific studies, including one published by IOP Science, acknowledge that EV manufacturing produces higher initial carbon emissions due to battery production, creating a "carbon debt." Yet, over their operational lifetime, EVs offset this debt by producing significantly lower emissions during use, especially as electricity grids become cleaner. The breakeven point for EVs to become cleaner than hybrids is typically between 20,000 and 30,000 miles, and even shorter when