Scrapping a Working Gas Car Early Cuts Emissions, Even a New One
The climate benefits of retiring an operational combustion engine vehicle
A new life-cycle analysis finds that retiring a functional internal combustion engine vehicle and replacing it with an electric vehicle reduces greenhouse gas emissions in most cases—even if the gas car is nearly new. The earlier the replacement, the greater the benefit, with carbon payback as short as three years for an average SUV on the US grid. The study highlights the potential of scrappage subsidies to accelerate the transition, though early retirement remains economically costly under current market conditions.
Although scrapping a functional asset remains economically prohibitive under current market conditions, these results demonstrate a major mitigation potential for policy interventions, such as enhanced scrappage subsidies, to address the emissions of an increasingly durable ICE fleet.
- PlunderBunny
We replaced our 2010 Ford Transit (diesel) with a 2022 Ssangyong (LDV) eDeliver 9 (battery electric), and one of the benefits I didn’t expect was just how much quieter it is in the cab - a conversation with my partner when we’re driving is much easier/more pleasant. (It’s not due to better insulation - both these vehicles are basically steel frames on wheels) - I don’t see this mentioned much in articles comparing EVs and ICEVs.
- SoftTalker
The fact of the matter is that the only thing that matters to most people is what makes economic sense to them. As for me, no way am I trading my 20 year old, fully paid for, cheap to insure, cheap to register ICE vehicle for a new EV with payments, higher insurance, and higher registration fees.
- pir8life4me
I'd love a BEV but where do I charge it?
If I use public chargers isn't that vastly more expensive?
- twobitshifter
It looks like they have the BEV lasting just as long as ICE car without any battery replacement. Has it turned out that way? Seems like owning an electric car for 18 years really hasn’t been a thing since the model s was released in 2012, but is it projected to last that long.
- toomuchtodo
Original title “The climate benefits of retiring a fully operational internal combustion engine vehicle” compressed to fit within title limits.
A new lifecycle study in the journal Science concludes there are substantial climate benefits to swapping an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle for an electric vehicle (EV) even if the ICE or hybrid vehicle is brand new, if driven more than ~7,054 km/year (4,384 miles/year).