Electric vehicles (EVs) may not be saving carbon in the UK, according to a new study.
Researchers at Queen Mary University have warned that the current push for EVs may be premature. They say Britain’s electricity grid still relies heavily on fossil fuels, meaning EVs “run almost entirely on power from gas and coal plants.”
Because of this, the team suggests that, for now, hybrids or highly efficient diesel cars might actually be more eco-friendly.
The study, accepted for publication in Environmental Research, compared real-world 2023 energy data with the UK government’s 2030 Net Zero plan. The researchers found that the variability of wind and solar power is “grossly underestimated.” On cloudy, windless days, gas power stations fill the gap.
Charging an EV during these periods doesn’t reduce emissions – it increases demand for electricity, which is met by burning more fossil fuels.
In 2024, the UK government announced plans to decarbonise electricity by 2030 instead of 2035. This would include large-scale offshore and onshore wind farms, solar power, and a major reduction in fossil fuel use. At the same time, ministers are encouraging technologies like EVs and heat pumps.
But the researchers argue this is putting the cart before the horse.
Professor Alan Drew, co-author of the study, said:
“EVs and heat pumps will be useful in the future. Right now, we need to stop pretending they are cutting emissions - the data shows they aren’t.”
Many studies on EV carbon savings use the overall UK energy mix to estimate emissions. In 2025, renewables made up 44% of electricity on average. Charging an EV does produce less CO2 than burning petrol or diesel – up to 75% less – but that assumes the extra electricity comes from low-carbon sources.
Professor David Dunstan, also a co-author, explained:
“Adding EVs doesn’t increase renewable generation. The extra demand is met by burning more gas. One new EV is just one more car’s worth of fossil fuel demand.”
In other words, in today’s grid, an EV only shifts emissions from the tailpipe to the power station, without cutting them. Hybrids or efficient diesel cars currently perform better in reducing overall fossil fuel use.
The researchers caution against expanding electricity demand before the UK grid is fully decarbonised.
However, not all experts agree. Dr Iaian Staffell, Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London, says the study is misleading. He points out that even electricity from gas power plants produces less carbon than petrol, and EV systems are more efficient than internal combustion engines.
Dr Staffell adds that modern measures, like smart chargers and energy interconnectors, help balance wind and solar supply. He concludes:
“There is no scenario in the UK where an electric car produces more carbon than a comparable petrol or diesel car.”