Battery electric cars are more climate-friendly over their full lifecycle than both diesel/petrol cars and all other alternative drives, such as hydrogen fuel cell or natural gas cars, says a study conducted by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu) and commissioned by the think tank Agora Verkehrswende, according to Clean Energy Wire.

Including emissions from production and disposal, a compact-class vehicle with a fuel cell and hydrogen produced through electrolysis emits 75 percent more greenhouse gases than a battery electric passenger car over its entire lifecycle after driving 150,000 kilometres.

The study uses the current German power mix and assumes a rising renewables share in line with government goals. Operating a conventional diesel car with synthetic fuel causes greenhouse gas emissions three times higher than those of a battery powered car.