While battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are considered climate-friendly, their climate mitigation benefits are often delayed due to their carbon-intensive manufacturing process. This study analyzes millions of vehicle data from China and reveals that the greenhouse gas break-even time (GBET) of China's BEVs ranges from zero to over 11 years, averaging 4.5 years. A significant portion of BEVs cannot offset their initial carbon debt within their battery warranty period. The authors advocate for policies that prioritize effective BEV substitution for internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) rather than solely focusing on rapid BEV deployment.
