T-test analysis of carbon emission differences between new energy vehicles and conventional fuel vehicles
Hongyuan Bi
University of Toronto
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/pest.v7i3.11529
Keywords: New energy vehicles (NEVs); Conventional fuel vehicles (TFVs); Carbon emissions; Independent samples t-test; Regional power mix; Emission reduction
Abstract
To address the reliance on theoretical calculations in existing studies comparing carbon emissions between new energy vehicles (NEVs) and conventional fuel vehicles (TFVs), this research employs an independent samples t-test to analyze real-world emission data. A nine-month field survey (March–November 2024) was conducted in four cities (Berlin, Mumbai, Toronto, Sydney), collecting 32,400 valid daily data points from 120 mid-size sedans (60 NEVs, including 40 BEVs and 20 PHEVs; 60 TFVs, including 45 gasoline cars and 15 diesel cars). Key control variables—driving behavior (average speed, hard acceleration/braking) and ambient temperature (5℃–25℃)—were standardized to minimize bias. Results confirm that NEVs emit significantly less CO₂ than TFVs (P < 0.001) in both regions, with larger emission reductions in low-carbon power areas (74.2% in Berlin vs. 51.5% in Mumbai). Cohen’s d values (>8) indicate a very large effect size, and sensitivity tests (sample size adjustment, extreme value exclusion) validate result robustness. Limitations include narrow sample scope (four cities) and unaccounted lifecycle emissions (e.g., battery production). This study provides empirical evidence for policies promoting NEVs and optimizing power structures to advance global carbon neutrality
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