A shocking new study has found that EV buyers still have bigger carbon footprints than petrol vehicle owners — here’s why

Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained massive popularity, especially among those who care about the environment and want to reduce their carbon footprint. However, a recent study from Finland has revealed a surprising twist: EV owners often have larger carbon footprints than those who drive fossil fuel-powered vehicles. This counterintuitive finding might stem from several factors related to the demographics and lifestyle of typical EV buyers.

Wealth and carbon footprint

The study found that EV owners tend to be wealthier, more educated, and travel longer distances than the average car owner. This profile is not unique to Finland; similar patterns emerge in India. Indian EV owners often belong to higher-income brackets — a group who have an appetite for sustainable brands and products, even though they consume more resources overall.

As per research, high-income consumers are more likely to consider EVs due to their ability to afford the initial costs and their interest in advanced features. Meanwhile, lower-income groups often exhibit concerns regarding battery technology and running costs, which hinder their adoption of EVs.
Despite their propensity for sustainability, wealthier individuals tend to have higher carbon footprints for various reasons. First, they consume more goods and services, which translates to increased production and transport emissions. They also often travel more frequently and over longer distances, whether by car or plane. Additionally, they use more electricity and energy-intensive products. In India, most electricity still comes from coal, meaning higher usage leads to more carbon emissions.

In India, the EV market is surging with government-backed incentives and a projected 49% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030. This boom is largely driven by wealthier consumers, who benefit most from government incentives, such as those under the FAME II scheme, which provides subsidies on EV purchases and tax breaks. These consumers are also more likely to live in urban areas where public EV infrastructure is more readily available. However, despite their investment in EVs, this demographic’s total carbon footprint remains high due to their overall consumption and lifestyle choices.

Don’t give up on EVs yet!

The study’s findings doesn’t mean that EVs are without merit. Transitioning to EVs can reduce tailpipe emissions, which directly impacts urban air quality and can significantly reduce greenhouse gases if charged from renewable sources. But the findings suggest that a shift to EVs alone isn’t a complete solution to reducing an individual’s overall carbon footprint, especially among wealthier owners whose lifestyle choices contribute substantially to emissions.
To encourage lower carbon footprints among all EV owners, it will be essential to couple the promotion of EVs with broader environmental awareness and lifestyle changes, such as energy conservation, reducing non-essential travel, and advocating for greener energy sources. Otherwise, the well-intentioned switch to EVs may be undermined by a lifestyle that remains carbon-intensive overall.

In conclusion, while EVs represent a step towards cleaner personal transportation, the Finnish study — and similar observations in India — suggest a need for holistic changes beyond vehicle choice. A transition toward sustainable lifestyles, combined with policy support for cleaner energy, is crucial for truly addressing the climate crisis.

The findings of this research have been published in PLOS Climate and can be accessed here.