Carbon emissions, prices of gasoline, prices of vehicles, factory emissions, and many other factors are significant issues in our society that must be fixed. We are often told that electric vehicles are more environmentally friendly than gasoline vehicles and are therefore safer for our environment. We have discovered that our background studies have mainly been based on tailpipe emissions, and not the other factors that we have looked at. Our goal was to create a factual and logical conclusion using all the available scientific evidence. This conclusion will include all the factors that contribute to being more environmentally friendly, and whether or not electric vehicles are actually “greener” for our environment. 

 

 

 

          We have gathered information using various reliable sources including numerous government websites such as Canada Energy Regulator and others. We have also consulted many other sources such as Google Scholar, and interviews with our mentors and professionals in order to identify studies and important data. These studies and data are crucial to our method in this project.

 

 

           

          There are numerous factors that contribute to being more environmentally friendly for the environment such as: tailpipe emissions, battery manufacturing, the car cycle, the energy cycle, and much more. We have created a logical hypothesis that electrical vehicles may be “greener” in some cases, but not all cases.

 

 

          Emissions are a major factor for environmental impacts and thus a major factor in our project. According to the Canadian Energy Regulator (2023), electric motors have no tailpipe emissions and do net emit CO2 when running. However, electrical motors do emit CO2 during the generation of power/electricity when drawn from the electrical grid (Canada Energy Regulator, 2023). For example, some provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland, depend significantly on fossil fuels. This is highly unlike the Lithium-ion state batteries that electric cars use. There are about 26,000 kilometers worth of transmission lines in Alberta (AESO, 2023). Transmission lines store heat underground. The electrical grid works by sending electricity through transmission lines into different energy consumption places. Some energy consumption examples are heating or cooling your home, driving your car, lighting in buildings, and many more common daily activities that use electricity.

 

 

          As mentioned above, electric vehicles, which are commonly known as EV's, use Lithium-ion state batteries. Electric vehicle batteries are made of lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, and graphite, and produce no tailpipe emissions. Most electric motors use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Another very important aspect that was taken into account, was that electric cars use liquid-state lithium ion batteries. If the car is charged higher than its maximum capacity, it can be extremely hazardous resulting in a fire. In fact, on July 26, 2023, a ship along the Dutch coast caught fire (The Guardian, 2023). The fire was likely caused by the shipment of electric vehicles that it was carrying. Gasoline powered vehicles however, use internal combustion engines that burn fuel in order to power the car. There are currently mainly two types of internal combustion engines. These engines are the spark ignition gasoline engine and the compression ignition diesel engine (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, 2013). A good amount of these internal combustion engines are four stroke cycle engines. The stroke cycle includes five different processes which include the intake, compression, combustion, power stroke, and exhaust (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, 2013). In a spark ignition engine, fuel is mixed with oxygen and then admitted into the cylinder in the course of the intake process. The spark ignites the engine and in conclusion, makes combustion. Electric motors are charged by lithium ion batteries in order to create power. This is unlike the internal combustion, as no direct emissions are burned. Lithium ion batteries have a high energy density, meaning that electric motors can store more energy than the average gasoline vehicle. The charger onboard the electric vehicle can convert the alternating current electricity into direct current power in order to charge the main battery. (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, 2013) The power is then taken to the traction motor (the one that powers the car's wheels). 

 

 

          The amount of indirect emissions that are burned during the process is also important and another aspect that we must consider. As a matter of fact according to the Canada Energy Regulator (2018), the Volvo XC90 hybrid burned the most total amount of emissions in Alberta. The Volvo XC90 averaged 279.6 grams of C02 burned per kilometer Canada Energy Regulator 2018). That is almost triple the amount of C02 burned by the Toyota Prius Eco, a similar sized gasoline powered vehicle. It was noticeable that hybrid vehicles did average one of the most indirect or direct emissions. We noticed that the amount of indirect/direct emissions burned did not vary by province except in British Columbia, which has a more environmentally friendly way of generating electricity. According to the British Columbia electricity and utility regulation and decarbonization government organization, British Columbia mainly generates electricity from hydroelectric power and forest biomass. According to the Government of Canada we can not fully exclude British Columbia in this equation. This is due to the fact that the Toyota highlander hybrid burned the 3rd most emissions in British Columbia during 2018. The Toyota Highlander averaged 185.7 grams per kilometer of C02 burned. Using that data we observe that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid burns approximately 163 pounds of CO2 for every 400 kilometers traveled. 

 

 

          Expenses in terms of electric, gasoline, and hybrid are also crucial to many people looking for an environmentally friendly car, but affordable. According to the New York Times (2023) the average electric vehicle costs about 61000 dollars, in comparison to gasoline vehicles, which averaged a significantly less amount, 49000 dollars. This fact may discourage buyers who are looking for a cheaper option. According to this data, you are saving about 12000 dollars by buying an average gasoline car. However, according to Car Nation Canada, it costs approximately 277 dollars per year to fill up an electric car in Canada. That number would increase in certain provinces that do not generate electricity cheaply, or efficiently. It costs about 2500 dollars per year to fill up a gasoline vehicle. Again, this number would increase or decrease depending on how much the province relies on fossil fuels. Even after that, you are still saving approximately 10000 dollars if you opt for an average gasoline car.

 

 

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&s=emm_epm0_pte_nus_dpg&f=a 

 

 

 

Alberta

https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2018/market-snapshot-how-much-co2-do-electric-vehicles-hybrids-gasoline-vehicles-emit.html#:~:text=Although%20electric%20motors%20do%20not,each%20province%20generates%20electricity%20differently 

 

 

 

https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2018/market-snapshot-how-much-co2-do-electric-vehicles-hybrids-gasoline-vehicles-emit.html#:~:text=Although%20electric%20motors%20do%20not,each%20province%20generates%20electricity%20differently 

 

 

 

https://www.cs.uic.edu/~dyu/images/greet%202.jpg - 

 

 

 

https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics 

 

 

British Columbia

https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2018/market-snapshot-how-much-co2-do-electric-vehicles-hybrids-gasoline-vehicles-emit.html#:~:text=Although%20electric%20motors%20do%20not,each%20province%20generates%20electricity%20differently 

 

 

 

https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2018/market-snapshot-how-much-co2-do-electric-vehicles-hybrids-gasoline-vehicles-emit.html#:~:text=Although%20electric%20motors%20do%20not,each%20province%20generates%20electricity%20differently 

 

 

https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2018/market-snapshot-how-much-co2-do-electric-vehicles-hybrids-gasoline-vehicles-emit.html#:~:text=Although%20electric%20motors%20do%20not,each%20province%20generates%20electricity%20differently 

 

 

https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-all-electric-cars-work

 

 

 

https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-hybrid-electric-cars-work

 

 

https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-plug-in-hybrid-electric-cars-work

 

 

https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-fuel-cell-electric-cars-work

 

          After reading and identifying reliable study papers, information websites, talking to our mentors, learning about both cars, we came to the conclusion that was similar to our hypothesis. We found that gasoline vehicles and electric vehicles had similar emissions, depending on the carbon intensity of the province that they were in. You see, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the world relies mainly on fossil fuels, about 80% of the world's energy comes from fossil fuels. In Alberta and Nunavut the carbon intensity is through the roof, which contributes significantly to how much vehicles emit in that province. Gasoline vehicles are burning fossil fuels directly, while electric vehicles are burning fossil fuels indirectly. This means that electric vehicles do not emit C02 when running, but rather when you draw electricity from the electrical grid. As noted before, how we get electricity in Alberta is from fossil fuels. That means that electric vehicles are technically using fossil fuels in order to generate the electricity that they are using. This data is not applicable to every place on Earth, but rather the places that rely mainly on fossil fuels.

 

 

 

AESO. (n.d.). About the grid                                                                                                                                                                                              https://www.aeso.ca/grid/about-the-grid/#:~:text=Throughout%20Alberta%2C%2026%2C000%20km%20of,to%20over%20four%20million%20people.

 

Bareau of Transportation Statistics. (18 August, 2022). Record Breaking Increase in Motor Fuel Prices in 2022. [image].                        https://www.bts.gov/data-spotlight/record-breaking-increases-motor-fuel-prices-2022

 

Canada Energy Regulator. (October 12, 2023). Fuel associated GHG emissions from selected vehicles. [Image].                                                                https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2018/market-snapshot-how-much-co2-do-electric-vehicles-hybrids-gasoline-vehicles-emit.html#:~:text=Although%20electric%20motors%20do%20not,each%20province%20generates%20electricity%20differently                                                          

Canada Energy Regulator. (October 12, 2023) Electricity consumption carbon intensity in Canada. [Image]                                                                         emit?https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2018/market-snapshot-how-much-co2-do-electric-vehicles-hybrids-gasoline-vehicles-emit.html%23:~:text%3DAlthough%2520electric%2520motors%2520do%2520not,each%2520province%2520generates%2520electricity%2520differently&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1709928301775101&usg=AOvVaw0HMf9oME7qgConaS_shCr4

 

Canada Energy Regulator. (2024, February 2). Provincial and Territorial Energy profiles.                                                                                             https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-alberta.html?=undefined wp disable=true

 

Canada Energy Regulator. (2023, November 28). Market Snapshot: How much CO2 do electric vehicles, hybrids and gasoline vehicles emit? https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2018/market-snapshot-how-much-co2-do-electric-vehicles-hybrids-gasoline-vehicles-emit.html#:~:text=Although%20electric%20motors%20do%20not,each%20province%20generates%20electricity%20differently

 

Carreon, A. R. (2023, March 8) EV Batteries 101: The Basics                                                                                                                                    https://rmi.org/ev-batteries-101-the-basics/ 

 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2019, May 16) The Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation Model.             https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics

 

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (2022, December) North America’s Rapidly Growing Electric Vehicle Market: Implications for the Geography of Automotive Production                                                                                                                                                                    https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/economic-perspectives/2022/5

 

International Energy Agency. (2023, March 2) Global CO2 emissions rose less than initially feared in 2022 as clean energy growth offset much of the impact of greater coal and oil use.                                                                                                                                                                                https://www.iea.org/news/global-co2-emissions-rose-less-than-initially-feared-in-2022-as-clean-energy-growth-offset-much-of-the-impact-of-greater-coal-and-oil-use

 

Larminie, J. Lowry, J. (2003, December 8) Electric Vehicle Technology Explained. Wiley.                                                                      https://books.google.ca/bookshl=en&lr=&id=FwXcCmT1OQUC&oi=fnd&pg=PR13&dq=electric+vehicle+technology&ots=q2TKbPn6gB&sig=H1qfI7i1Cqj4hFDvkw6VkwLEzZ8&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=electric%20vehicle%20technology&f=false

 

Office of Energy Efficiency and & Renewable Energy. (22 November, 2013). ICE Engine. [image]. Internal Combustion Engine Basics.        https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics

 

Office of Energy Efficiency and & Renewable Energy. (n.d.). Hybrid Electric Vehicle. [image]. How Do Hybrid Electric Cars Work?https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-hybrid-electric-cars-work

 

Office of Energy Efficiency and & Renewable Energy. (n.d.). All-Electric Vehicle. [image]. How Do All-Electric Cars Work?https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-all-electric-cars-work

 

Office of Energy Efficiency and & Renewable Energy. (n.d.). Plug in Hybrid-Electric Vehicle. [image]. How Do Plug in Hybrid-Electric Cars Work?https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-plug-in-hybrid-electric-cars-work

 

Office of Energy Efficiency and & Renewable Energy. (n.d.). Hydogen Fuel Cell Vehicle [image]. How Do Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Work?https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-fuel-cell-electric-cars-work

 

Our World In Data. (2024, January) CO₂ emissions.                                                                                                                                    https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions

 

The Guardian. (2023, July 26). Dutch ship catches fire on board.                                                                          https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/26/cargo-ship-fire-off-dutch-coast

 

The New York Times. (2023, February 10) Electric Vehicles could match gasoline cars on price this year.                                    https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/business/electric-vehicles-price-cost.html 

 

United States of America Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. (2013, November 22). Internal combustion engine basics.                        https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics 

 

United States Geological Survey (2019)                                                                                                                                                            https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-much-carbon-dioxide-does-united-states-and-world-emit-each-year-energy-sources 

 

 U.S. Energy Information Administration. (4 March, 2024) . U.S All Grades All Formulations Retail Gasoline Prices.  [Image].                        https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&s=emm_epm0_pte_nus_dpg&f=a   

 

Well-to-Wheels (WTW) Analysis: Petroleum-Based Fuels. (n.d.). [Image].                                                                https://www.cs.uic.edu/~dyu/images/greet%202.jpg 

 

 

          We would like to acknowledge our incredibly wise mentors (Dr. Shahin, Dr. Soares, and Ms. Haney), our grammar teachers (Ms. Madison, Ms Chloe, and Dr. Miri), and our supportive friends and family (Ms. Mona, Mr. Estifanos, Alice Turner, Ethan Lee, and Mariam El-Gamal,), not only for their enthusiasm, but for their many ideas and wisdom that helped us create this Science Fair project. Lastly, the wonderful Calgary Youth Science Fair volunteers and judges.