The Environmental Impacts of Electric Vehicles

Billions of dollars are being invested in electric vehicles in the name of fighting climate change. World leaders are backing them as the green fix for our burgeoning road transport emissions. But when you factor in the carbon emissions that come from manufacturing EVs, how well do they stack up against their petrol and diesel counterparts? If all the cars on the road switched to EVs, could we meet our climate targets? This week The Climate Question looks under the bonnet of electric vehicles – and whether there is an altogether better solution. Presenters Neal Razzell and Kate Lamble are joined by: Heather Maclean, Professor of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto Quentin Willson, Motoring journalist and EV campaigner Clarisse Cunha Linke, Brazil Director of the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy Estelle Honnerat, reporter in Paris Dr Emma Smith, Research Fellow in Antarctic Seismology, University of Leeds Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon Sound engineer: Tom Brignell