If you want to pay attention to climate protection and low CO₂ emissions when buying a car, you need to look beyond consumption. The formula is “road to wheel” – source to wheel. What is meant here is the consideration of the entire life cycle of a car, from the extraction of raw materials to production and from operation to disposal.
First of all, the climate balance of electric cars is controversial. Of course, they are far superior to internal combustion engines due to their much higher efficiency in terms of energy consumption in daily operation. In addition, there are more complex production and exotic raw materials, for example, motors and batteries. Not to mention the disposal and recycling of raw materials. Electric vehicles cause more or less CO₂ over their service life than combustion engines – there is relevant research for both theses (also interesting: electric cars are in accuracy check).
Online climate calculator at TCS
It is not easy for car buyers to get the relevant data. Manufacturers like to report percentage reductions in CO₂ emissions or the conversion of their production to CO₂ neutrality. But concrete figures for CO₂ emissions over the life of a car often remain internal.
That’s why TCS offers a so-called climate balance calculator on its website. For each model offered in Switzerland – electric car, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, diesel or petrol engine – it calculates the specific CO₂ emissions over the entire life cycle. Relevant data are provided by the Paul Scherrer Institute at Villigen AG. Brand new models such as the current BMW iX1 are often missing but constantly updated.
Tesla entered the top ten
This is how the ten most climate-friendly electric cars in Switzerland can be identified. Blick compared the cheapest basic versions of all the models presented. Surprisingly, battery manufacturing in particular has been heavily criticized for its CO₂ emissions and questioned whether it makes sense for the climate. Production of the rest of the car, including the drive, results in three to four times higher CO₂ emissions, depending on the model. Meaning: The smaller the body, the better the classification.
However, the models of Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf, the pioneers of electricity, and the cult brand Tesla did not enter the top ten. Base Model 3s are 29.3 tons of CO₂ over their entire life cycle. While the Citroën C-Zero, Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Peugeot Ion will shine with the lowest CO₂ footprint, they have been left out of the list as they come from the primitive days of e-mobility and fall behind current models, especially in terms of range. and space
8.
Hyundai Kona Electric, Opel Corsa-e and Peugeot e-208 – 26.1 tons CO₂
The three models share eighth place with the same CO₂ emissions over their entire service life: Hyundai’s 204 hp (150 kW) Kona Electric (from CHF 39,300 onwards) and Opel’s first Stromer Corsa 26.1 tons between factory and scrapyard It emits CO₂ -e (from CHF 37,760) and Peugeot e-208 (from CHF 34,750). The last two, with 136 hp each, can travel approximately 350 kilometers on a single battery charge, according to the WLTP consumption standard. With the Kona it would be 305 kilometers in the basic version.
7
Honda e – 25.1 tonnes CO₂
Honda’s city vehicle with XXL monitors in the cockpit (starting at 43,600 CHF) ranks 7th with 25.1 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Driving power is 154 hp; Its range is 220 kilometers.
6
Mini Cooper SE – 24.1 tons CO₂
The electric mini (starting at CHF 39,300) ranks sixth with 24.1 tons of CO₂ over its entire lifetime. With 184 hp and a range of 234 kilometers, it is the strongest in the top 10 of the climate.
5
VW E-Up – 21.1 tonnes CO₂
VW’s smallest Stromer E-Up dates back to the time before the Wolfsburg group’s big electric attack. With prices starting from CHF 27,850 and with 83 HP (61 kW), it can travel 308 kilometers on a single charge and ranks 5th.
4
Fiat 500e – 20.1 tonnes CO₂
Fiat’s new Cinquecento (starting at CHF 30,490) is offered exclusively with electric drive. It ranks fourth with 20.1 tonnes of CO₂, has a range of 240 kilometers on the WLTP standard cycle and delivers 95 hp (70 kW).
3
Renault Twingo – 19.9 tons CO₂
Smart sister model Renault Twingo Electric (starting at CHF 24,000) is in third place with CO₂ emissions of just under 20 tonnes over its entire lifetime. With 81 hp (60 kW), it can cover a range of around 190 kilometers on a single battery charge.
2
Smart Fortwo – 19.6 tons CO₂
The city-operated Smart EQ Fortwo (starting at CHF 27,000) ranks second, again thanks to its small body with room for only two people. With 82 horsepower, it can travel approximately 144 kilometers.
one
Dacia Spring – 18.3 tons CO₂
The winner is no surprise: the cheapest electric car in Switzerland is also the car with the smallest CO₂ footprint. The Dacia Spring (from CHF 19,990) weighs 18.3 tons, has 45 hp (33 kW) over its entire lifetime and can travel up to 230 kilometers.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
