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EVs are an important part of addressing climate change. This is because transportation is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions. However, not all electric vehicles address climate change at the same level. Here are the 2022 EVs that make the biggest impact on climate change. 

What 2022 EVs are best for reducing carbon emissions and the effects of climate change?

Blue 2022 Tesla Model 3 driving on a wet road, highlighting 2022 EVs that make an impact on climate change
2022 Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

EnergyWire created a list of 2022 EVs that “matter the most for climate change.” Right now, we’re at a tipping point for electric vehicles. Demand for EVs is significantly increasing. Many new electric vehicles are coming out in 2022. Also, most automakers are making a big push to go all-electric. According to EnergyWire, here are the low-emission 2022 electric vehicles that make the biggest impact on climate change:

  • Tesla Model 3 and Model Y 
  • Toyota RAV4 Prime and plug-in hybrids (PHEV)
  • Delivery vans and trucks
  • Ford F-150 Lightning
  • Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, and other crossover SUVs 

High-volume EVs like the Tesla Model 3, Toyota RAV4 Prime, and Ford F-150 Lightning make the biggest impact on climate change

Gray 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning driving through a forest, highlighting 2022 EVs that make an impact on climate change
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning | Ford

There are buzzworthy electric vehicles such as the Rivian R1T, Fisker Ocean, and Lucid Air. However, at least in the near future, the sales volume of these EVs will be too low to make much of a difference in reducing carbon emissions and the effects of climate change. The biggest difference-makers are high-volume electric vehicles. This includes models such as the Tesla Model 3 and Y, Toyota RAV4 Prime, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Ford Mustang Mach-E. 

Many automakers have huge ambitions for electric vehicles. However, they are still a long way from challenging the dominance of Tesla. In 2021, Tesla sold 936,000 EVs. Most of the vehicles sold by Tesla were the relatively more affordable Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover SUV.

In comparison, the next biggest seller of electric vehicles is Ford. According to independent automotive analyst Alan Baum, Ford will sell approximately 127,500 EVs in 2022. This includes 32,500 units of the F-150 Lightning pickup truck and 95,000 units of the Mustang Mach-E crossover SUV. Since the gas-powered F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in the United States, the F-150 Lightning, its electric counterpart, could play a significant role in addressing climate change in the future.

While not fully electric, the RAV4 Prime and other plug-in hybrids (PHEV) make a big impact on climate change as well. With a PHEV, you get the best of both worlds, for you don’t have to worry about range anxiety with their gasoline engine, but they also provide electric-only power for short distances with their plug-in hybrid systems. 

Electric delivery vans and trucks help lower carbon emissions

Other types of EVs that will help lower carbon emissions and reduce the effects of climate change in 2022 are electric delivery vans and trucks. This is because of the large size of delivery vans and trucks, as well as the considerable number of miles that they cover.

E-commerce sites such as Amazon are a major part of how consumers shop for products, resulting in many packages being delivered to our homes throughout the year. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, pledged that Amazon will be carbon neutral by 2024. 

To do this, Amazon will have a fleet of electric delivery vans. The company has a $4.5 billion contract with Rivian to produce Rivian Amazon Prime delivery vans. While the highly-regarded Rivian R1T electric pickup truck and R1S electric SUV get much publicity, the contract with Amazon for the EV delivery vans is more impactful — both financially and for reducing the effects of climate change.

If you purchase any type of electric vehicle instead of a fully gas-powered one, you’re doing your part to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions. However, the EVs that have the highest sales volume and cover the most mileage are the ones that make the biggest impact.

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