We’ve mentioned before how eBikes are an excellent green alternative to mopeds and fuel-powered vehicles. By choosing an eBike for your daily commute, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and make the planet just a bit safer for everyone.

Now, let's dig deeper into how eBikes compare to other vehicles in terms of reducing carbon emissions.

Car vs eBike

When it comes to cost, eBikes clearly win against cars:

• An eBike typically costs 5-9 times less than a car;
• Instead of shelling out around $100 for a full tank of gas, you’ll only need about $24-34 per year to charge your eBike—and even less if you don't use it every day;
• Maintenance for eBikes is simpler and more budget-friendly.

Clearly, eBikes are not only more eco-friendly but also more cost-effective than cars.

But you might wonder, “Can a vehicle truly be considered green if its production leaves a big carbon footprint?” That’s a very valid question, and we acknowledge it fully.

How Green Is eBike Manufacturing?

To be honest, it’s not entirely green. However, compared to car manufacturing, it’s still the most environmentally friendly option.

Cars start emitting 45g of CO2 per mile during manufacturing. In contrast, eBikes emit roughly 9g of CO2 per mile, which is five times less than cars—just the beginning!

One major factor to consider is the Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery. These batteries are known for their long life and high capacity, but producing them does have environmental impacts. The dirtiest part of the process is lithium mining. Many compounds created during this process emit nine times more CO2 than the total weight of the mined lithium.

Of course, recycling is always an option, and it’s gaining traction worldwide. Although lithium is widely used in electronics, recycling it remains expensive. Currently, mining is cheaper, but with the rising trend of electric vehicles, it’s quite possible that in a few years, recycling Li-Ion batteries will become the most practical way to obtain lithium.

Shipping is another important aspect. No matter if you choose air freight, sea transport, or trucking, there will always be a noticeable carbon footprint involved. For now, it’s impossible to eliminate these emissions entirely.

However, if you think about it, cars leave a far heavier carbon footprint during transportation. It all begins when various manufacturers ship car parts, and ends with fewer cars fitting into carriers. Cars are simply larger than eBikes, so they naturally take up more cargo space. A single shipment can carry four or even five times more eBikes than cars, especially since they’re often shipped in a disassembled state.

What About Riding an eBike?

Over the lifespan of an average eBike, the total carbon footprint of the vehicle won’t exceed 100 kilograms—assuming you ride it daily or take longer trips. As for cars, burning gas releases massive amounts of CO2 and heat, which is common knowledge. Even electric cars like Teslas, with their powerful Li-Ion batteries, still emit around five tons of CO2 annually due to their higher capacity and power usage.

Let’s look at some numbers. On average, eBike emissions per mile are as low as 8-9 grams, taking into account the most significant contributor—the battery. Naturally, your riding habits play a role; if you avoid using the pedal-assist feature often, your emissions can be even lower.

But what about electricity? Electricity doesn’t just appear out of thin air, and not every city has completely green energy plants. The good news is that the electricity consumed by an electric bike adds up to just 2 grams per mile. That’s far better than fuel and much cheaper.

You can’t be 100% green unless you’re a tree. But what you can do to help combat climate change is support renewable energy, electric vehicles, and smarter urban commuting.