Do Zero Emission Cars Exist Yet? See All 12 Ranked Best to Worst (Full Chart)

Recently, there’s been a lot of claims about zero emissions cars.

But, do they really exist?

Sadly, no. There is no such thing as a zero emission vehicle (unless you count bicycles) because the manufacturing and ‘charging’ of the vehicle creates emissions, and so does the waste disposal.

In fact, some of these vehicles are much more damaging to the planet than traditional internal combustion engine cars, when you account for the horrific wastes produced by unregulated coal generated electrical power, and the dangerous, toxic substances that leech into ground water from the disposal of the batteries.

This complete review outlines which vehicles that claim “zero emissions” are the best, and which are the worst for the planet.

Do Zero Emission Cars Exist?

Although the term is used, zero emissions cars are still a long way off. Unless a company suddenly comes out with a Fred-Flintstone-style car, all new vehicles (and especially those with electrically charged batteries) have a very heavy carbon footprint.

Currently, zero-emission cars are grouped into three main categories or designs, namely:

1. Plug-In Hybrid Cars – gasoline-powered engine combined with an electrically-charged battery.
2. Battery Electric Cars – electricity-powered, and grid-charged engines.
3. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars – electricity-powered using a fuel cell that runs on hydrogen gas.

Zero-emission cars are “technically” defined as vehicles that do not emit harmful pollutants from their main source of power during operation. But, this classification is still not accurate, because even a fully electric vehicle creates emissions from the electricity generated to power it.

Zero emissions cars are supposedly not reliant on fossil fuel and help to reduce air pollution.¹⁸

It must be noted, however, that while zero-emissions cars do not produce direct emissions, the manufacturing and disposal process does create carbon emissions.

It’s also important to note that air pollution numbers have drastically decreased in the past 30-50 years, thanks to innovations in internal combustion engines.

In addition to this, the vehicle owner must charge the car with solar panels and offset the waste emissions of a battery that has reached the end of its lifespan. If all these measures are not in place, a vehicle cannot be considered a true zero-emissions car.¹

Carbon Footprint of Lithium-Ion Battery Production

Lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries are used in a variety of electric vehicles and computers, but neither is exceptionally green.

The carbon footprint of lithium-ion battery production alone accounts for around 74% of emissions (during the manufacturing process).¹⁹

This doesn’t include the emissions and dangerous toxic waste that is generated with disposal.

Zero Emission Vehicle Examples

Zero emission vehicle examples include human-powered or animal-powered vehicles such as bicycles and carriages, as well as hydrogen vehicles and electric vehicles.

(Image: mmurphy³²)

Again, in this context, zero emissions refer to emissions emitted when the vehicle is on, or in motion.²⁰

Of course, zero-emissions vehicles produce fewer emissions, even when taking manufacturing and battery lifespans into consideration, because they don’t produce emissions while on the road.

Emissions are produced, however, when the electricity for an electric car is produced.² More carbon is emitted if the electricity is supplied from a fossil fuel-using power plant.

Should the electricity be supplied from a solar power plant or wind farm, carbon emissions would have been emitted during the manufacturing of the panels and the turbines.²

Cars With Lowest CO₂ Emissions

GreenerCars ratings, as announced by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, have ranked the cars with the lowest CO₂ emissions in 2022.²²

Before the rankings are made public, over 1,000 different models are studied. Consideration is given to the energy source of the vehicles, the emissions emitted during the manufacturing of the vehicles, and the process of recycling or disposal of batteries and other parts of the vehicles.

The 2022 rankings also take into consideration emissions produced by different materials used inside the vehicles, including lithium used in EV battery manufacturing.

The table above lists the cars with the lowest CO₂ emissions in 2022, as ranked by GreenerCars: (Only 4 of these vehicles are full EVs, while the rest are hybrids, including plug-in hybrids) ⁵

Cars With Highest CO₂ Emissions

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has also ranked the cars with the highest CO₂ emissions in 2022.

The cars ranked here, are not electric vehicles, but traditional fuel-powered vehicles with exceptionally low green scores.

The rankings of cars with the highest CO₂ emissions also consider manufacturing emissions, disposal, recycling, each model’s individual energy source, as well as the emissions produced by the materials required to manufacture each car.^{6, 23}

Creation Carbon Footprint of Zero-Emission Vehicles

Manufacturing a single vehicle emits an estimated 6 tons of carbon emissions, excluding the battery. This estimation includes the acquiring of the necessary material and the manufacturing process itself.The difference in emissions between traditional fuel-powered and electric-powered cars comes down to the production of the battery of the vehicle, and the source of electricity.⁷

Reducing the carbon impact of zero-emission vehicle manufacturing relies on using local, renewable energy and making use of energy-efficient manufacturing processes at all times.

Manufacturers of zero-emission vehicles are continuously reevaluating their manufacturing processes to cut down on GHG emissions.²⁴ To reduce the creation carbon footprint of zero-emission vehicles, car manufacturers have implemented a variety of solutions:⁸

Renault Zero Emissions Cars

Renault has also made inroads with their electric vehicle range.²⁵ The Renault zero emissions cars include the following models:

• Renault Megane E-Tech model, which is 100% electric.
• Renault Zoe E-Tech model, which is 100% electric
• Renault Kangoo E-Tech model
• Renault Master E-Tech model

Emissions Footprint of Hybrid Vehicles

The results of tests conducted in 2021, showed higher-than-expected emissions produced by hybrid vehicles.

(Image: Markus Winkler³³)

The reason for this, as concluded by several researchers, is the fact that drivers of hybrid vehicles neglect to use the electric component of the car.

Tests were performed on 22 hybrid vehicles and the results concluded that plug-in hybrid vehicles use 4 times more fuel than expected. The vehicle brand that came off worst in these tests is BMW – its X5 model was 72% less efficient than stated.

The tests also showed that the carbon emissions footprint of hybrid cars landed between 50-300 gCO₂/km, which is up to 4 times higher than previously thought.

The annual emissions per vehicle are indicated as follows:⁹

• All Electric Vehicles – 3.932 pounds of CO₂ per annum.
• Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles – 5,779 pounds of CO₂ per annum.
• Hybrid Vehicles – 6,258 pounds of CO₂ per annum.
• Gasoline Vehicles – 11,435 pounds of CO₂ per annum.

When calculating the emissions produced, the source of electricity plays an important role:⁹

Emissions Footprint of Used Vehicles

The emissions footprint of used vehicles is substantially higher than that of new vehicles. Considering that manufacturing a single vehicle accounts for 25% of its total lifespan carbon footprint, ongoing tailpipe emissions, regular services, and spare parts must also be considered, especially for a used vehicle.

Older used vehicles generally require more liters of oil, more replacements when it comes to parts, and more consumables than new, gasoline-powered cars.

Compare used vehicles to electric vehicles and the difference is even more notable.¹⁰

CO₂ Emissions per kWh Calculator

Making use of the Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator allows for the calculation of annual CO₂ emissions of not only households but also vehicles.

This CO₂ emissions per kWh calculator allows the entering of abstract measurements and translating them into valuable figures that can be used for GHG reduction efforts.

The calculator is amazingly simple to use and requires only 2 steps.

1. Select either energy or emissions data
2. Select the required unit and enter an amount
3. View results²⁶

Truck CO₂ Emissions per Km Calculator

It is estimated that the average freight truck operating in the US, produces 161.8 grams of CO₂ per ton-mile.

(Image: Tudor Smith³³)

A simple way to set up a truck CO₂ Emissions per km calculator (or mile), is to make use of a simple formula:

• D – Distance that shipment travels (miles or km)
• W – Weight of shipment (tons, kg, or pounds)
• EF – Emissions factor

GHG Emissions = D x W x EF¹¹

An example of a calculation for a truck traveling 1,000 miles carrying 20 short tons of cargo is as follows:

1. Make sure of the total amount by multiplying 1,000 miles by 20 tons.
2. Include the emissions factor for freight trucks (weight-based). The average truck emits 161.8 grams of CO₂.
3. Multiply the emissions factor by the total amount of ton-miles (161.8 x 20,000)
4. This calculates an amount of 3.236.000 grams of CO₂.
5. The calculated grams should then be converted into metric tons.
6. The calculated answer of step 3 should be divided by 1.000.000 (1.000.000 grams = metric ton)
7. The result of these calculations is as follows: 3.24 metric tons of CO₂ emissions.

Zero Emission Cars

The environmental impact of zero-emission cars can be calculated with the use of a state calculator.²⁷ The following steps are important when using the calculator:

1. Choose/select the relevant state
2. Enter the total miles driven every year
3. Enter the vehicle make and model
4. Enter the vehicle’s fuel economy – MPGe
5. Enter the vehicle’s fuel economy – kWh/100 miles
6. Enter a gasoline vehicle for comparison (fuel savings)
7. Enter a gasoline vehicle for fuel economy comparison (MPG)
8. Enter the cost of gasoline per gallon, based on zip code
9. Enter the cost of electricity (local state – cents/kWh)
10. Enter fuel savings per annum
11. Enter electricity production percentage, when produced by a renewable source
12. Enter the percentage of time the vehicle is charged at no cost at a public charging station
13. View results¹²

Audi CO₂ Emissions Calculator

In its ongoing effort to reduce carbon emissions, car manufacturer Audi has designed and enabled the Audi CO₂ emissions calculator.

(Image: marcderiaz³²)

This calculator enables drivers to determine the amount of CO₂ emitted while driving.

In addition to this, Audi owners in Mexico have the option to offset emissions by buying carbon credits from forests in Oaxaca.

Related Reading: Average American Carbon Footprint: Emissions by City and State (Updated 2022)

Audi’s official CO₂ figures are listed as follows¹³

BMW 1 Series CO₂ Emissions

The BMW 1 Series range of cars is dated between 2004 and 2020 and there are 28 versions of this particular BMW. The BMW 1 series CO₂ emissions differ year-on-year as indicated by the below table:^{14, 28}

Ford Ranger CO₂ Emissions

Current Ford Ranger CO₂ emissions are estimated to be between 260 and 273g per kilometer. It is expected that this figure will improve when new Fourth and Fifth Generation vehicles are produced.

Zero Emissions Cars UK

The UK is at the forefront of the ongoing move towards zero-transmission vehicles. The Zero Emissions Cars UK plan includes the country’s goal to be the fastest G7 nation to phase out fuel-powered cars and introduce regulations that will see fully zero emissions cars exclusively on the road by 2035 (new vehicles).²⁹

Electric Car

Because an electric car is not yet a fully zero-emissions vehicle, ongoing research into different technologies is continuously making breakthroughs in this field.

In September 2022, it was announced that a group of Dutch students had invented the zero-emissions car with the ability to capture its own carbon as it drives.

The goal of this invention was to create true zero-emissions cars, with minimized or eliminated CO₂ during the manufacturing, life, and end-of-life processes.¹⁵

The Truth About Electric Cars

While it is true that electric cars are not fully zero-emissions vehicles, there are a lot of myths surrounding EVs that sometimes contribute to the slow uptake of these cars.

The truth about electric cars includes the following points:

They are not more expensive than traditional cars, even though battery costs can drive up the price. Rebates also help to keep prices even.

• Electric cars are not as unsafe as many believe them to be, and they are definitely greener than traditional vehicles.
• Electric cars do, in fact, save drivers a lot of money in operating costs and are cheaper to maintain than traditional cars.
• EVs can be charged at any charging station (public), or even at home. In the US alone there are around 20,000 charging stations in convenient locations.
• EV batteries have an exceedingly long lifespan and the current power grid in the US is more than able to accommodate millions of electric cars being added to it.¹⁶

Speaking of the power grid, it has been estimated that the percentage of electric miles for PHEVs and BEVs increases when charging electric vehicles at the workplace. The carbon intensity of the power grid is also reduced.³⁰

When a BEV is charged on a high-carbon grid and is time restricted, the charging process produces the highest level of carbon emissions.

At the same time, it is still far more energy-efficient to charge an electric vehicle than to drive a gasoline-powered car in the US, no matter in which state.

California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project

The California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) has been established with the goal of promoting clean vehicle adoption in the state. The main incentive that the CVRP offers is a rebate on the purchase or lease of new zero-emission cars. Zero-emission vehicles that qualify for rebates include:

• Zero-emission cars
• Electric cars
• Hybrid electric cars
• Fuel cell cars

Zero Emission Vehicles List

The following table indicates the zero-emission vehicles list of the different model cars that qualify for rebates, as well as the rebate amount.³

It is important to note that Tesla vehicles are no longer eligible for rebates according to the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project because of recent price increases.²¹

Zero-Emission Vehicle Program

The zero-emission vehicle program (ZEV) forms part of the California Air Resources Board’s standards that regulates pollutants and emissions in California.

(Image: stanvpetersen³²)

The zero-emission vehicle program requires automakers to offer electric vehicles for sale, not only in California but in 10 other states as well. The main goal of the program is to curb tailpipe pollution in the state of California, and the regulations have also been adopted by the following states:

• Colorado
• Vermont
• New York
• Maryland
• Rhode Island
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• Oregon
• Maine
• New Jersey⁴

To comply with the zero-emission vehicle program, automakers must maintain their ‘ZEV credits,’ assigned to them by the program. These ZEV credits must be equal to an established percentage of non-electric vehicle sales.

The requirement was 7% in 2019 and is expected to rise to a level of at least 22% by 2025. This means that 3% of sales in 2019 had to be ZEV-credit-related, and by 2025, 8% of sales will have to be ZEV-credit-related.

In addition to this, only 43% of credits can be attributed to plug-in hybrid vehicles, which means that 57% (or higher) should account for battery electric cars or hydrogen fuel cell cars.

Carbon Footprint of Electric Cars vs Gasoline

When determining which vehicle comes out on top in the carbon footprint of electric cars vs gasoline debate, the lifetime global warming emissions of both types of vehicles must be considered.

(Image: AndrzejRembowski³²)

Many studies have been done over the years, and the conclusion is that from beginning to end, ‘cradle to grave,’ electric vehicles that are powered by rechargeable batteries are 50% cleaner than gasoline-powered cars.

In addition to this, electric vehicle technology will continue to improve, and the processes will become even cleaner as greener electricity sources are used.

That being said, BEV production does result in 15% higher emissions during the manufacturing process, compared with a gasoline car, due to the production and fabrication of lithium-ion batteries.³¹

Replacing gasoline with electricity, however, will reduce the lifetime carbon footprint by at least 51%.¹⁷

Related Reading: Carbon Footprint of Electric Cars vs Gasoline (The Truth No One Admits)

How To Calculate Carbon Footprint Manually

It is easy to learn how to calculate carbon footprint manually for personally-owned vehicles.

The easiest way to determine tailpipe CO₂ emissions is to establish fuel consumption. The calculations are as follows:

• Amount of Fuel (gallons or liters) + fuel type (petrol/diesel) = CO₂ emissions
• Cost of Fuel (average per gallon/liter) + fuel type (petrol/diesel) = CO₂ emissions
• Distance Driven (miles or kilometers) + rate of consumption + fuel type (petrol/diesel) = CO₂ emissions¹⁸

Naturally, these formulas are meant for gasoline-powered car calculations, as zero emission cars do not produce tailpipe emissions, but of course, they still have a major carbon footprint and cost to the planet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Zero-Emission Cars