Actually no. For starters, electrical cars are about equal to ICEs only if 100% of the power generation is from coal (results vary a little from region to region). A non-ideal situation certainly. But even if we were to funnel everything previously used in cars to oil based power plants we'd see an improvements - simply because the efficiency gains that come from scale.If all the cars in the world were magically turned into electric versions overnight tonight, the increase in global electric power capacity required to power them all not only doesn't actually exist, but if it did and was generated using power sources in the same ratio as today, it would release a virtually equivalent amount of green house gases and cause equally as much pollution as the current situation of burning fossil fuels in internal combustion engines.
However, the above also makes two fatal assumptions:
1) That the ICE does not considerably increase the emissions-per-distance over its lifespan. There is a reason it is required by law in most countries to test the vehicles emissions whenever its on service. If this value climbs to high for its current age, driving it is illegal. With the average age of the vehicle fleet in countries, this amount is not trivial, whereas all research has always assumed a new ICE at peak efficiency (its easier to do). Needless to say, that's not particularly realistic.
2) That power plants do not improve their efficiency over time. In basically all countries, the limitations on emissions on power plants has increased as the years ago by. This efficiency improvement directly results in an efficiency improvement to electrical vehicles, both new and old.
In other words, while a 5 year old ICE will perform below the results of research, a 5 year old electrical should perform better.
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