Producing and manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) and their batteries uses a lot of energy, leading many to be skeptical about the environmental benefits of switching to electric.

But a new study says that after two years of use, EVs emit fewer carbon dioxide emissions than vehicles fueled by petrol. The findings are key, as transportation accounts for a significant portion of U.S. emissions.

While EVs run on electricity, which cuts out polluting exhaust emissions, traditional internal combustion engine vehicles run on petrol. Petrol is a fossil fuel that, when burned, drives climate change by emitting greenhouse gases that trap the Earth’s heat.

Researchers from Northern Arizona University and Duke University used a model to evaluate criteria air pollutants, which are monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency due to the harm they cause, and emissions across four potential scenarios for EV market share in the U.S., given how the energy system across the nation might develop over time.

The least ambitious scenario for EV adoption assumed the share of EV sales reaches 31% in 2050, and the most ambitious assumed EVs reach 75% by 2050. EVs accounted for about 8% of new vehicle sales in 2024.

They found that during an EV's first two years of operation, it produces 30% higher carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline vehicles. The higher initial emissions stem from the energy-intensive production and manufacturing processes that go into mining lithium for EV batteries, according to the research.

Previous studies have also shown that battery production is a dirty process and harmful to the environment and communities, leading many to be skeptical about the benefits of switching to electric.

But the new analysis says that after the second year, EVs lead to fewer cumulative CO2 emissions compared to gasoline vehicles.

Part of that is due to a drop in emissions from driving more EVs.

But with higher rates of adoption, the study also said there would be a need for more electricity production, which would potentially boost the use of more energy sources typically associated with lower emissions, such as solar and wind power.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.