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New research led by the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) shows that choosing a more electrified vehicle will reduce drivers' greenhouse gas emissions regardless of where they live in the U.S. The authors say that it's the most comprehensive analysis to date, providing drivers with estimates of emissions per mile driven across 35 different combinations of vehicle class and powertrains. This includes conventional gas pickups, hybrid SUVs and fully electric sedans with dozens of other permutations. 

The team created a free online calculator, letting drivers estimate greenhouse gas emissions based on what they drive, how they drive and where they live.

“Vehicle electrification is a key strategy for climate action. Transportation accounts for 28% of greenhouse gas emissions and we need to reduce those to limit future climate impacts such as flooding, wildfires and drought events, which are increasing in intensity and frequency,” said Greg Keoleian, senior author of the new study and a professor at SEAS.

The research team at U-M also included CSS research specialists Christian Hitt and Timothy Wallington, as well as postdoctoral fellow Maxwell Woody and Alan Taub, professor in materials science and engineering. Taub is also the director of the U-M Electric Vehicle Center. Hyung Chul Kim, a research scientist at Ford, was another collaborator, and Elizabeth Smith is the lead author, who worked on the project as a master’s student at U-M before graduating in May.

The work was published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology and was supported by the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the U-M Electric Vehicle Center.

Read the full press release on the Michigan News website. 

Study: Greenhouse Gas Reductions Driven by Vehicle Electrification Across Powertrains, Classes, Locations, and Use Patterns (DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c05406)