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 yours makes space ship sounds 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.

 

[B177y]

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.

Seems like you should be hitting up marriage forums instead of car forums. This does not seem healthy.

 

[Snakebitten]

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 think your wife is AWESOME

You are a lucky man. Just enjoy your life.

 

[Tosh]

I had a 2007 Jeep CRD (common rail diesel - referred to as "clean"). At the time, it was much better than the truck it replaced. I took great care to keep it running well and it gave me 27MPG, while D2 was costing me about $2.50/gal. This car was not legal for sale in 5 states because it didn't meet their emissions standard. I bought it in Texas. When it got to about 165,000 miles it just started falling apart, as Chryslers are known to do. Over the years I owned it I put a lot of petroleum products into it (as well as some exotic mechanical parts such as the VGT controller motor for the turbo charger).

I currently have a Sprinter with the same OM642 engine in it. This one has
SCR (requires DEF), which my old Jeep did not. It requires 10 qts of expensive synthetic oil and has had a compete replacement of it's DEF tank/pump/sensors due to failure (covered by an extended warranty). Again, lots of lubricants and expensive parts.

So - I can say without a doubt - the Eco Diesel is not ecologically friendly. It might be economically friendly for the owner, living where D2 is cheaper than gasoline (well, premium anyway), and better still if it's under warranty.

I get the whole truck thing. I'm from Texas. Now I live in a semi-rural part of Oregon. The truck is king out here. I have an F-150 for the rare times I actually NEED a truck. However, I much prefer the Mach E. So does my wife.

 

[goneAWOL]

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

Do a full delete, EGR, ECU flush everything. You won’t recognize the truck, 15% less fuel, at least 20 more HP and turbo is always ready….

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