Carbon Footprint Savings Calculator

Calculate how much CO2 you save by driving an EV compared to a gas car, based on your local electricity grid mix and driving habits.

Results

Visualization

How It Works

Even on the average US electricity grid, EVs produce significantly fewer lifetime emissions than gas cars. The average gas car emits about 4.6 tons of CO2 per year. An EV on the average US grid emits about 1.5 tons — a 65% reduction. On clean grids (like those in California, New York, or the Pacific Northwest), EVs can reduce emissions by 80-90%. If you charge from home solar panels, emissions approach zero for driving. The manufacturing CO2 footprint of an EV (especially the battery) is higher than a gas car, but this is typically offset within 1-3 years of driving. As the grid continues to get cleaner over time, EVs automatically become greener without any changes needed.