Sources
The 2017 study in China of CO2 emissions from producing an EV compared with a combustion model was by Qiao et al
The estimate of lithium extraction CO2 emissions was by the consultancy Minviro
A 2018 European Parliament report reviewed multiple studies to estimate the proportion of EV production emissions accounted for by the battery
The conclusion that charging an EV in China is the equivalent to burning two-thirds of a tank of gasoline was based on International Council on Clean Transportation data
The studies suggesting EVs could produce more particle emissions from tyre wear than combustion-powered vehicles are summarised in a 2020 OECD report
The 2021 study comparing the lifecycle emissions of combustion engine and electric vehicles was by the International Council on Clean Transportation
This article has been amended since first publication to use a more recent estimate of an electric vehicle's life cycle emissions in Europe and to include comparisons for the US, China and India
Credits
Visual Storytelling Team: Cale Tilford, Ian Bott, Caroline Nevitt, Sam Joiner, Alexandra Heal and Peter Campbell