EV vs EcoDiesel Comparison?

[Aaron.Edwards]

Has anyone done a CO2 carbon footprint comparison with so called "EcoDiesels"?

I don't think ChatGPT is correct but it could be close when I am comparing my '23 MME GTPE 28,000miles to my wife's '22 Ram 1500 Lonestar Eco-Diesel.

She says things like, "your battery kills the planet", "the emissions needed to produce your car outweigh mine".

But I am pretty sure our MME breakeven point is around 20,000miles.

I want to throw some facts at this parking lot queen.

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[Maquis]

Just say “Yes, dear” and move on.

 

[E90alex]

There is nothing particularly “clean” or “eco” about the Stellantis eco diesels. Just a marketing name. They just use DEF to reduce particulates vs old school diesels like any modern diesel engine.

If she wants to talk about the environmental impact of producing an EV battery then be sure to include the environmental impact of oil drilling, fracking, and refining as well every time she needs to fill the tank.

I think Engineering Explained on YouTube had a video a while ago debunking these myths/tired talking points.

But TBH I don’t really care about the environmental aspect of an EV. Sure it’s a great side benefit but not my reasoning to go EV. An EV is just easier, cheaper, faster, smoother, quieter, less maintenance, less smelly etc vs ICE. Not having to make a fuel stop every week or two or get an oil change every couple months is a far bigger immediate impact on my life than whatever supposed environmental impact there may be.

 

[Keytone]

Diesel emmits other particles and pullutants other than just CO2. "Clean" or "eco" diesel? Marketing.

If the focus is upon greenhouse gas, it all comes down to the electrical production or sourcing for where you charge. Mine is sourced from hydro or solar at home - all renewable and no 'dirty' production.

Then there the issues of battery production.... That is an easier calculation for an emmision comparison to an ICE for its distance covered versus the same cost for an EV battery's build.

 

[Aaron.Edwards]

I tried to use logic and even showed her this: https://www.switch2zero.com/resources/blogs/diesel-vs-electric-cars

She laughed and said - "yeah, well I look awesome in this big truck and your space ship sounds g@y when you drive by"

I don't think I am winning anything today, might just go back to bed and see how tomorrow pans out.

 

[OWG]

@Aaron Edwards — ran your matchup end to end so you'd have receipts. Cradle-to-grave, '23 Mach-E GT vs the '22 Ram EcoDiesel, charging on your Dallas ERCOT grid (gas-heavy, not clean).


Concede her point first: the battery is the dirty part. The pack is ~6–7 tonnes of CO₂ before the car moves, so you leave the lot about 4 tonnes behind her truck. Real number, not a rounding error.


But that's a one-time cost, and the per-mile gap pays it back fast — ~137 g/mi for you (metered at the panel, so charging losses are already baked in) against ~570 for the diesel. Four to one. Breakeven lands around 9,000–12,000 miles; you're at 28k, so it cleared a while ago. Your 20k guess was conservative.


Full life it's roughly 40 tonnes for you vs 100-plus for the Ram — call it 60% lower, on a dirty grid.


(Figures pull from EPA fuel-economy, EPA eGRID for the ERCOT factor, and standard well-to-wheel diesel numbers; I had Claude run the lifecycle math, but the numbers are mine to defend.)


Fair warning, though: this wins the battle, not the war. You'll have the spreadsheet; she'll still have the bed — both the truck's and the one in the actual bedroom — the tow rating, and the last word.

 

[TheSlug1958]

Has anyone done a CO2 carbon footprint comparison with so called "EcoDiesels"?

I don't think ChatGPT is correct but it could be close when I am comparing my '23 MME GTPE 28,000miles to my wife's '22 Ram 1500 Lonestar Eco-Diesel.

She says things like, "your battery kills the planet", "the emissions needed to produce your car outweigh mine".

But I am pretty sure our MME breakeven point is around 20,000miles.

I want to throw some facts at this parking lot queen.

What about cell phone batteries? Everybody seems to pick on EV's but there is little mention about the billions of used cell phone batteries! Just sayin'

 

[Zol-E]

I tried to use logic and even showed her this: https://www.switch2zero.com/resources/blogs/diesel-vs-electric-cars

She laughed and said - "yeah, well I look awesome in this big truck and your space ship sounds g@y when you drive by"

I don't think I am winning anything today, might just go back to bed and see how tomorrow pans out.

I do feel sorry for you. Your wife's argument is a perfect mirror of how brainwashed the majority of people are in NA. Looking cool in a Ram 1500? Give me a break. How often does she need that truck to do truck things?
I would rather be called gay million times in my '21 than be seen driving a Ram or any other pickup for that matter.
Mind you, I was born and raised in Central Europe and just can't understand North Americas fascination with pickup trucks. Except tradesmen and farmers who genuinely can benefit of it. But that is a discussion for other topic.
Back to your opening question, I don't think there is any argument you can win with, against her.
If logic doesn't apply, nor the amount of money you can save driving electric, there is nothing that can change her mind.

 

[Aaron.Edwards]

I hate driving that truck, turbo lag is stupid, can't ever find a parking space, and it feels like a brick above 60mph. I enjoy our cars silence, sometimes i can even hear the birds when at a redlight. I still laugh when she complains about filling up her tank

 

[Zol-E]

@Aaron Edwards — ran your matchup end to end so you'd have receipts. Cradle-to-grave, '23 Mach-E GT vs the '22 Ram EcoDiesel, charging on your Dallas ERCOT grid (gas-heavy, not clean).


Concede her point first: the battery is the dirty part. The pack is ~6–7 tonnes of CO₂ before the car moves, so you leave the lot about 4 tonnes behind her truck. Real number, not a rounding error.


But that's a one-time cost, and the per-mile gap pays it back fast — ~137 g/mi for you (metered at the panel, so charging losses are already baked in) against ~570 for the diesel. Four to one. Breakeven lands around 9,000–12,000 miles; you're at 28k, so it cleared a while ago. Your 20k guess was conservative.


Full life it's roughly 40 tonnes for you vs 100-plus for the Ram — call it 60% lower, on a dirty grid.


(Figures pull from EPA fuel-economy, EPA eGRID for the ERCOT factor, and standard well-to-wheel diesel numbers; I had Claude run the lifecycle math, but the numbers are mine to defend.)


Fair warning, though: this wins the battle, not the war. You'll have the spreadsheet; she'll still have the bed — both the truck's and the one in the actual bedroom — the tow rating, and the last word.

Add to the equation that ev batteries are more than 90% recyclable.

 

[Glen Boise]

ICE vehicles typically dump 60% of the energy released by exploding their fuel as waste heat. Your BEV wastes 10% if "fueled" by electrons from solar panels or wind turbines. It wastes 20% if "fueled" by electrons from burning fossil fuels. She's wasting her money on that diesel.

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