EV & the environment · updated October 2026
How much CO₂ does an EV save in India?
About 29% less CO₂ per km than a petrol car on today's grid — calculated honestly, after subtracting the emissions from generating the electricity.
Per kilometre, today
Petrol car: ~153 g CO₂/km
2.3 kg CO₂ per litre ÷ 15 km per litre.
EV on India's grid: ~109 g CO₂/km
0.71 kg CO₂ per kWh (CEA) ÷ 6.5 km per kWh.
Saving: ~29% per km
Rises every year as the grid adds renewables — and far higher when you charge from solar.
What that adds up to
Net CO₂ avoided for typical charging volumes, using the factors below.
| Example | Energy | EV km enabled | Petrol replaced | Petrol CO₂ | Grid CO₂ | Net CO₂ avoided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One car, a year (2,000 kWh ≈ 13,000 km) | 2,000 kWh | 13,000 | 867 L | 2 t | 1.4 t | 0.6 t |
| A busy 60 kW station, a month (10,000 kWh) | 10,000 kWh | 65,000 | 4,333 L | 10 t | 7.1 t | 2.9 t |
| A charging network, a month (1,00,000 kWh) | 1,00,000 kWh | 6,50,000 | 43,333 L | 99.7 t | 71 t | 28.7 t |
How the numbers are calculated
| Step | Formula | Value used |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Distance enabled | kWh × EV efficiency | 6.5 km per kWh (conservative real-world average) |
| 2. Petrol replaced | Distance ÷ petrol car mileage | 15 km per litre |
| 3. Petrol CO₂ avoided | Litres × petrol emission factor | 2.3 kg CO₂ per litre (IPCC default) |
| 4. Grid CO₂ from charging | kWh × grid emission factor | 0.71 kg CO₂ per kWh (CEA, FY 2024-25) |
| 5. Net CO₂ avoided | Step 3 − Step 4 | ≈ 0.29 kg CO₂ per kWh |
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does an electric car save in India?
On India's current grid, an EV at 6.5 km/kWh is responsible for about 109 g CO₂ per km from electricity generation (CEA factor 0.71 kg/kWh), versus about 153 g per km for a 15 km/L petrol car — roughly 29% less per km today.
Are electric cars really greener in India when the grid uses coal?
Yes, but by less than often claimed. Even after counting the CO₂ from coal-heavy grid electricity, an EV emits about 29% less CO₂ per km than a typical petrol car. The gap widens every year as India adds renewables, and charging from solar removes most of the remaining emissions.
How much CO₂ is saved per kWh of EV charging?
Each kWh drives an EV about 6.5 km, replacing about 0.43 litres of petrol (1.00 kg CO₂). Generating that kWh emits 0.71 kg CO₂, so the net saving is about 0.29 kg CO₂ per kWh.
What is India's grid emission factor?
The Central Electricity Authority's CO₂ Baseline Database (Version 21.0) gives a weighted average of 0.710 tonnes CO₂ per MWh — 0.71 kg per kWh — for FY 2024-25.
How can I make my EV charging cleaner?
Charge during solar hours, use chargers powered by rooftop or carport solar, and prefer AC charging at home or work for daily driving. Solar-powered charging stations cut the grid share of each kWh.
Sources
- CEA CO₂ Baseline Database for the Indian Power Sector, Version 21.0 (Central Electricity Authority, Government of India)
- IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Vol. 2 (Energy), mobile combustion defaults
- Real-world EV range tests (Autocar India)
Estimates for information; real savings depend on each car's efficiency, the petrol car it replaces and the electricity mix when charging.
Charge cleaner
Find a Relux station — or host a solar-powered one at your site.