Use-Phase Emission Comparison of Battery Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles in Canada

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in-use emissions and energy consumption of similar model internal combustion engine (ICE) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Canada. For the ICE vehicles (ICEVs), carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions were measured at the tailpipe. For the BEVs, the carbon intensity of different energy sources was used along with vehicle energy consumption to estimate the in-use CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) emissions. Three ICEVs, the Ford Transit, Ford F-150, and Nissan Versa, and three BEVs, the Ford E-Transit, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Nissan LEAF, were tested over standard test cycles on a chassis dynamometer. The Nissan Versa, Nissan LEAF, Ford F-150, and Ford F-150 Lightning were tested at two temperatures, 25°C and −7°C, to investigate the effect of colder temperatures on emissions and energy consumption. The Ford Transit 150 and E-Transit were tested at two test weights, 2722 kg (6000 lb) and 3629 kg (8000 lb), to study the effects of cargo loading on emissions and energy consumption. In most conditions, the BEV use-phase CO₂e emissions were found to be lower than those of the ICEVs. Results showed a significant increase in both emissions in ICEVs (up to 20%) and energy consumption in BEVs (up to 78.5%) at −7°C when compared to 25°C. Results also showed the significant effect of the carbon intensity of electricity on the CO₂e emissions of BEVs, where more carbon-intensive electricity grids resulted in higher BEV CO₂e emissions, even surpassing ICEV CO₂ emissions in certain cold-temperature conditions.