Electric cars produce no emissions jobs at all but their use increases demand for electrical generation. The well-to-wheel (WTW) carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of electric cars is always lower than those of conventional cars, but the amount of savings depend on the emissions intensity of the existing electricity infrastructure. An electric car's WTW emissions are much lower in a country like Canada, which electricity supply is dominated by hydro and nuclear, than in countries like China and the US that rely heavily on coal.
An EV recharged from the existing US grid electricity emits about 115 grams of CO2 per km driven, (g(CO2)/km) whereas a conventional gasoline powered car emits 250 g(CO2)/km. The savings are smaller relative to hybrid or diesel cars, but would be more significant in countries with cleaner electric infrastructure. In a worst case scenario where incremental electricity demand would be met exclusively with coal, a 2009 study conducted by the WWF and IZES found that a mid-size EV would emit roughly 200 g(CO2)/km, compared with an average of 170 g(CO2)/km for a gasoline powered compact car.

Originally Posted by pastafari Electric cars produce no emissions at all but their use increases demand for electrical generation. The well-to-wheel (WTW) carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of electric cars is always lower than those of conventional cars, but the amount of savings depend on the emissions intensity of the existing electricity infrastructure. An electric car's WTW emissions are much lower in a country like Canada, which electricity supply is dominated by hydro and nuclear, than in countries like China and the US that rely heavily on coal. An EV recharged from the existing US grid electricity emits about 115 grams of CO2 per km driven, (g(CO2)/km) whereas a conventional gasoline powered car emits 250 g(CO2)/km. The savings are smaller relative to hybrid or diesel cars, but would be more significant in countries with cleaner electric infrastructure. In a worst case scenario where incremental electricity demand would be met exclusively with coal, a 2009 study conducted by the WWF and IZES found that a mid-size EV would emit roughly 200 g(CO2)/km, compared with an average of 170 g(CO2)/km for a gasoline powered compact car.