BEVs Emit Far Less Greenhouse Gases Than ICE Vehicles Over Their Lifecycle – 33 Tonnes vs 53.84 Tonnes on India’s Current Grid
A recent study from researchers at the Centre for Excellence in Energy and Telecommunications (CEET) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, in collaboration with Immersive Technology and Entrepreneurship Labs (ITEL), has provided compelling evidence that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are significantly superior to petrol-powered internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in reducing greenhouse gas emissions across their entire lifecycle.The IIT Madras campus, home to cutting-edge research on sustainable technologies.
Released in mid-December 2025, the report uses a dynamic lifecycle assessment model tailored to Indian conditions. It accounts for a standard vehicle lifespan of 300,000 kilometres (3 lakh km) and incorporates evolving factors like increasing renewable energy penetration and battery recycling rates.
Key Findings on Operational Emissions
The most striking result is in operational emissions – the gases released during day-to-day driving and charging:
- Petrol ICEVs: 53.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e)
- BEVs on India’s current grid (approximately 28% renewables): 33 tonnes of CO₂e
This represents a substantial reduction of about 39% for BEVs, even with India’s coal-heavy electricity mix.With a fully renewable-powered grid, BEV operational emissions plummet to nearly zero – just 0.03 tonnes. A comparative chart illustrating lifecycle emissions of electric vs combustion engine vehicles (representative global data; India-specific advantages are even more pronounced per the IIT report).
Manufacturing Emissions: A Narrowing GapCritics of EVs often point to higher upfront emissions from battery production. The report addresses this directly:
- Without renewable energy in manufacturing or recycling:
- ICEVs: 8.66 tonnes CO₂e
- BEVs: 9.66 tonnes CO₂e (slightly higher due to battery materials)
- With 100% renewable energy and advanced recycling:
- ICEVs: 2.89 tonnes CO₂e
- BEVs: 2.54 tonnes CO₂e (now lower for BEVs)
By 2040, the study projects that recycling could recover up to 95% of key materials, slashing manufacturing emissions by 30-40%.
Why BEVs Have an Inherent Efficiency Advantage
BEVs convert around 90% of electricity into vehicle motion, compared to less than 25% for petrol engines (the rest lost as heat). This efficiency, combined with the potential for clean electricity, makes BEVs far more scalable for emission reductions.In contrast, ICEVs are locked into fossil fuel dependence, with about 80% of their lifecycle emissions coming from operation and limited room for further efficiency gains.Modern electric vehicles like the Kia EV6 represent the shift towards cleaner mobility in India.
An EV charging station in India, highlighting the growing infrastructure supporting battery electric vehicles.
Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Chairman of ITEL and a prominent figure in IIT Madras’ innovation ecosystem, emphasized the urgency: “This study arrives at a moment when India can no longer afford to delay decisive action on transportation emissions. Our cities are choking, our citizens are suffering health consequences… BEVs are not just marginally better, they are decisively superior to petrol vehicles in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, even with our current electricity mix.
”The report calls for a dual strategy: accelerating BEV adoption while decarbonizing the grid and building robust battery recycling ecosystems.
As India aims for net-zero emissions by 2070 and expands renewable energy capacity, the environmental case for electric vehicles becomes overwhelming. This IIT Madras analysis provides India-specific data to counter doubts and support policy decisions favoring electrification.
The transition to EVs isn’t just about cleaner air – it’s about energy security, reduced oil imports, and positioning India as a leader in sustainable transport.
