Despite the rollback of government incentives, the momentum behind electric vehicles (EVs) isn’t slowing. Automakers are moving ahead with EV investments, infrastructure continues to expand, and the public is increasingly embracing cleaner transportation.
This is good news, according to Greg Keoleian, the Peter M. Wege Endowed Professor of Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and the co-director of the Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS).
Vehicle electrification is the future, he says, and accelerating the transition from gasoline-powered vehicles to electrified ones is necessary to help reduce emissions and achieve net-zero 2050 climate targets, both in the U.S. and abroad.
“The manufacturing, sales and adoption of electric vehicles is a key strategy to decarbonize the transportation sector and tackle climate pollution,” says Keoleian. “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.”
Keoleian develops life cycle models that focus on climate and sustainability solutions across energy, mobility, the built environment, water and food systems.
His research projects on EVs have covered the topics of life cycle greenhouse gas reductions, climate policy and EV incentives, total cost of ownership, driving and charging patterns, domestic sourcing of critical materials, sustainable battery management, and more. Keoleian and his team of researchers and students at CSS have collaborated extensively with the automotive industry, the U-M EV Center, faculty from U-M Engineering, Geology and the School of Information, and national labs.
One of his latest studies, of which he is the lead investigator, compares the greenhouse gas emissions of different vehicles based on size, usage, powertrain type and even location. The powertrains included conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
It’s the most comprehensive analysis to date of vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, from production to end-of-life disposal, providing drivers with estimates of emissions per mile driven across 35 different combinations of vehicle class and powertrains. The model accounts for emissions across time and space by county due to temperature effects on fuel economy and electricity grid fuel mix.
One of the main findings? Battery electric vehicles have lower lifetime greenhouse gas emissions than internal combustion engine vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids in every county in the contiguous U.S.
Keoleian says the emissions savings from BEVs are tremendous. On average, a 2025 model with a 300-mile range BEV has emissions that are 31–36% lower than those of a 50-mile range PHEV, 63–65% lower than an HEV, and 71–73% lower than an ICEV.
Drivers can see for themselves how vehicle emissions compare thanks to a free online calculator that Keoleian and his team created as part of their study.
While phasing out tax credits and other climate policies could hinder the manufacturing and sale of EVs, SEAS graduate Jim Gawron (MSE ’11, MS/MBA ’19), director of charging strategy and business operations at Ford Motor Co., says that Ford is focused on giving consumers choices and that includes electrified options.
Jim Gawron (MSE ’11, MS/MBA ’19)
When Gawron started at Ford in 2019, the company didn’t have any EVs in its U.S. vehicle lineup. Now, it has multiple available globally and recently announced plans to launch a new affordable universal EV platform with the first, a mid-size truck, launching in 2027, “which is what we think will resonate with our target customers,” Gawron says.
Many consumers still have concerns about electric vehicle charging, says Gawron, which is why Ford has also invested heavily in home charging solutions and its BlueOval Charge Network public charging infrastructure across North America, and provides access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
“It’s about making charging easy and seamless for people,” says Gawron. “We’ve come a long way with our learnings about electrification and what makes a great electric vehicle and how to support the charging journey.”
Evan Leon (MS/MBA ’20), another SEAS graduate, is a senior manager in the resources recycling strategic business unit at Toyota Tsusho America (TAI), the U.S. subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho Corporation. He oversees circular economy-related projects and plays a key role in TAI’s collaboration with Toyota North Carolina, a $13.9 billion investment that will bring its battery manufacturing lines online in phases, starting in 2025. TAI represents a 10% shareholding in Toyota North Carolina, underscoring its commitment to the project and to the future of mobility, Leon says.
Evan Leon (MS/MBA ’20)
“TAI’s investment in developing and producing lithium-ion batteries further demonstrates Toyota Tsusho’s commitment to supporting the supply chain needs of various electrified powertrains, including battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles,” he adds.
Leon believes that plug-in hybrids will be an attractive option for drivers transitioning from gasoline-powered vehicles. “They offer a middle ground between internal combustion engines and full battery electric vehicles,” he says. “I’m excited to see how future plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be received by drivers who may prefer to have both options.”
Looking ahead, Leon sees a promising future for battery manufacturing, driven in part by the shift toward domestic and allied sources of critical battery materials, as well as advancements in battery reuse and recycling.
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