Post the study, the authors even released a policy memo recommending incentivising second-hand EV sales.
According to a Harvard study, for EVs to be environmentally beneficial, drivers must pass a certain mileage threshold.
The study authored by Ashley Nunes and Lucas Woodley states that people who seldom drive are better off having an ICE-powered vehicle. This is because, while ICE vehicles emit more CO2 throughout their lifecycle, they forego the heavily polluting process of battery production.
The study mentioned that in order for EVs to reach their emission-reducing potential, their sweet spot is between 28,069 and 68,160 miles (45,173 to 1,09,693 km).
Woodley stated, “If you’re somebody who drives a fair amount then you are likely well-suited to drive an electric vehicle. If, on the other hand, you’re someone who seldom drives, and the vehicle is mostly going to sit in the garage, then you may counterintuitively be better off owning a gasoline-powered vehicle.”
The Harvard study is said to have looked at subsidies and how the US government incentivizes EV ownership. It mentioned that with people mostly selling off their EVs before the threshold mileage, prioritizing used EV sales could be environmentally advantageous. Most of the used EVs bought second-hand, mostly go unused.
Post the study, the authors even released a policy memo recommending incentivising second-hand EV sales. The study concluded that unless owners plan to use their EVs past 69,000 miles (1.11 lakh km), their carbon footprint won’t actually shrink.
Keyword: Harvard Study: EVs are beneficial only if they are driven a lot