The Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emission, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model is a full life-cycle model for evaluating the energy and emission impacts of various vehicle and fuel combinations. The first version of the GREET model was released in 1996. Since then, the model has been updated and expanded to include additional vehicle types and fuels. The results below are from GREET Model 1.8d.1. The California grid mix (bars outlined in green) was chosen due to the high renewable energy mix in that state. In contrast, the West Virginia grid mix (bars outlined in black) is primarily coal. Both of these are compared against the average U.S. grid mix for various vehicle technologies.
Well-to-Wheel Emissions for Various Fuels and Vehicle Technologies
Note: H2 = hydrogen; High-T = high-temperature
Supporting Information
Fuel | Grams of CO2-Equivalent per Mile | Vehicle Technology |
---|---|---|
Gasoline (Today's Vehicle) | 450 | Conventional Internal Combustion Vehicles |
Gasoline | 340 | |
Natural Gas | 270 | |
Gasoline | 235 | Hybrid Electric Vehicles |
Natural Gas | 185 | |
Diesel | 220 | |
Corn Ethanol (E85) | 180 | |
Cellulosic Ethanol (E85) | 90 | |
Gasoline & 2035 U.S. Grid Mix | 230 | Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (power-split, 10-mile electric range) |
Gasoline & 2010 WV Grid Mix | 280 | |
Gasoline 2010 CA Grid Mix | 232 | |
Gasoline & Ultra-low Carbon Renewable | 195 | |
Cellulosic Ethanol (E85) & 2035 U.S. Grid Mix | 105 | |
Cellulosic Ethanol (E85) & 2010 WV Grid Mix | 143 | |
Cellulosic Ethanol (E85) & 2010 CA Grid Mix | 91 | |
Cellulosic Ethanol (E85) & Ultra-low carbon Renewable | 70 | |
Gasoline & 2035 U.S. Grid Mix | 270 | Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (series, 40-mile electric range) |
Gasoline & 2010 WV Grid Mix | 392 | |
Gasoline & 2010 CA Grid Mix | 215 | |
Gasoline & Ultra-low Carbon Renewable | 155 | |
Cellulosic Ethanol (E85) & 2035 U.S. Grid Mix | 180 | |
Cellulosic Ethanol (E85) & 2010 WV Grid Mix | 300 | |
Cellulosic Ethanol (E85) & 2010 CA Grid Mix | 108 | |
Cellulosic Ethanol (E85) & Ultra-low carbon Renewable | 63 | |
2035 U.S. Grid Mix | 230 | Battery Electric Vehicles (150-mile range) |
2010 WV Grid Mix | 440 | |
2010 CA Grid Mix | 85 | |
Ultra-low Carbon Renewable | 0 | |
H2 - Distributed Natural Gas | 200 | Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles |
H2 - Coal Gasification w/Sequestration | 95 | |
H2 - Biomass Gasification | 37 | |
H2 - Nuclear High-T Electrolysis or Ultra-low Carbon Renewable | 42 | |
Source: Argonne National Laboratory, GREET Model 1.8d. 1. |