From creation to recycling: the life cycle assessment of the ID.3

The challenge: to enable CO₂-optimised production, our experts first have to be able to determine the CO₂ emissions as precisely as possible. This is where the life cycle assessment can help. They use this ISO-standardised method to analyse each individual component and ascertain the effect that a vehicle has on the environment over the course of its entire life cycle– from raw material extraction to production, assembly and the usage phase of the vehicle, through to recycling of the materials. Several impact categories are examined. One of these is emissions of CO₂ and a small proportion of other gases that are converted into what is known as carbon dioxide equivalents. This unit of measurement makes it possible to compare the effect of all greenhouse gases on the climate.

At each of a component’s processing stages its emissions are calculated using a special software based on average values. For especially energy-intensive production stages, such as battery cell manufacturing, we use concrete data from the respective suppliers rather than averages values for the ID.3. This procedure is also identified as a specific life cycle assessment. It shows us exactly what impact our implemented measures have – and how much CO₂ actually needs to be compensated for. The results of the life cycle assessment are independently verified and certified by TÜV Nord.

We at Volkswagen promised to deliver you an ID.3 with a net carbon-neutral¹ footprint. To ensure that you receive a better CO₂ footprint than with a comparable combustion engine we are first of all reducing and avoiding CO₂ during manufacturing using a variety of measures. This includes, for example, using green electricity both during battery cell manufacturing and in our Zwickau plant, where the ID.3 is built. Unavoidable CO₂ emissions from production through to handover to the customer, which are determined using the specific life cycle assessment, are ultimately offset through certified climate protection projects.

Comparing various life cycle assessments across the whole life cycle will reveal that even without offsetting the remaining CO₂ emissions during production, the ID.3 has a CO₂ advantage over a comparable model with a combustion engine. And this is not only the case when charged using green electricity, but also applies when charged using the conventional European electricity mix².

The results of the life cycle assessment for electric vehicles are only a snapshot. They offer much more potential for further reduction of CO₂ emissions far beyond the vehicle’s life cycle. First of all, during the usage phase through increasing development of renewable energy sources, and secondly during production. This is why we work closely together with our suppliers to continue reducing remaining CO₂ emissions through the use of green electricity and recycled materials, even within the complicated upstream supply chain. That is why we see offsetting through certified climate protection projects as an immediate measure – and one step on our path toward a zero-emission future.