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The growing concern for environmental sustainability has sparked a shift towards electric vehicles as a more environmentally friendly alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). This review paper comprehensively incorporates a wide range of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies to conduct a detailed comparison of the environmental impact of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) in different regions and under various scenarios. The analysis encompasses recent research from various years and diverse locations, such as the USA, Spain, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, China, and Japan. The LCA evaluations yield significant insights into the global warming potential (GWP) represented by CO2 equivalent emissions per vehicle kilometre over their lifespan. The findings also emphasize that BEVs charged with renewable energy offer greater environmental benefits than biofuel-driven cars. Furthermore, the study incorporates various future scenarios, such as the widespread adoption of renewable energies, which could lead to substantial reductions in CO2eq emissions. However, the comparative analysis reveals varying impacts for BEVs in different regions, particularly highlighting the importance of the electricity mix used to charge BEV batteries. Overall, the review paper serves as a valuable contribution to the broader aim of understanding transport drivetrain implications on environment. Integrating diverse LCA assessments can inform sustainable transportation policies and practices.

The demand for e-commerce platforms has rapidly increased over the last years leading to increase demand on last mile delivery (LMD) services. Not to fall short of 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets in the transport sector transitioning to sustainable LMD solutions is the key. Adopting electric vehicles (EVs) in delivery services can significantly reduce direct and indirect emissions, which can be of interest for many supply chain actors willing to report their sustainability practices within Scope 3 as per IPCC guidelines for the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. This study undertakes the eco-efficiency analysis of a local LMD company in Latvia to understand the financial viability and the external environmental cost related to fleet electrification. As a result, the eco-efficiency analysis confirms the financial and environmental advantages of EVs. The study acknowledges limitations in the current eco-efficiency framework related to the GHG emissions monetisation and recommends leveraging the voluntary carbon credit markets for a more market-based assessment of carbon pricing. The findings support the transition towards sustainable LMD options, aligning with broader sustainability goals.

The transport sector is one of the most polluting sectors in the world and 29.8 % of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Latvia come from it. Given this sector’s importance, it is surprising that the external costs of transport are often measured only from the air pollution perspective, mainly CO2 emissions and the health effects associated with these emissions. However, other external costs should be considered when calculating the impact of transport. In this paper, external costs dependent on the type of motor and energy used in vehicles are calculated for Latvia’s current passenger car and light commercial vehicle situation. These external costs are compared with different proportions of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Latvia’s passenger and light commercial vehicle fleet. In addition, changes in employment associated with changes in the automotive sector are calculated. The results indicate that having a higher BEV proportion in the fleet reduces external costs in almost all sectors and increases job positions available in the automotive sector.