Thing is Diesels are common in Europe. Fuel costs are high (£1.50 or more per litre, or 7.6$ per us Gallon), so there has long been an incentive to be economical. Arguably, a Biodiesel fuelled car is still very competitive with an EV for CO2, lifetime emissions. Not NOx though.

The part that I have the biggest reservations in the CO2 calculations of the lifetime of an EV car is in the scrappage phase. I think figures for this are not that comprehensive and reliable. A lot of theoretical estimates rather than real figures.