University researchers have proven that electric cars produce less CO2 than petrol ones, following years of claims by sceptics that this isn’t the case due to how electricity is produced and the way the cars are made. A massive shift from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric ones will be key to countries meeting their CO2 reduction commitments, and this study justifies any future push to make this a reality.
The environmentally friendliness of electric vehicles does depend on how the electricity is produced in the country where they are driven and charged, their efficiency compared with traditional vehicles and how they are manufactured. However, the researchers’ study says only in grossly coal-dependent countries such as Poland do electric cars produce more CO2 than petrol and diesel ones – and they produce less CO2 in 95% of the world.
The countries where electric cars are the most CO2 efficient include Sweden (which makes the majority of its electricity from renewable sources) and France (which is largely nuclear). In the UK, the CO2 saving from using electric cars instead of petrol and diesel ones is 30% – a figure that will rise as more renewable sources come online.
After energy generation method, the biggest criticism of electric cars centres on their lithium batteries, which tend to comprise base metals such as copper, aluminium and iron, and other materials at risk of becoming depleted and which require energy-intensive extraction. However, manufacturers say future battery technology will lessen their environmental impact.
With evidence such as this stacking up in favour of electric vehicles, it seems the only barriers to them becoming the norm are manufacturers making them more efficient (both in terms of consumption, raw materials and manufacture), and governments providing the necessary infrastructure and legislation.
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University researchers have proven that electric cars produce less CO2 than petrol ones, following years of claims by sceptics that this isn’t the case due to how electricity is produced and the way the cars are made. A massive shift from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric ones will be key to countries meeting their CO2 reduction commitments, and this study justifies any future push to make this a reality.
The environmentally friendliness of electric vehicles does depend on how the electricity is produced in the country where they are driven and charged, their efficiency compared with traditional vehicles and how they are manufactured. However, the researchers’ study says only in grossly coal-dependent countries such as Poland do electric cars produce more CO2 than petrol and diesel ones – and they produce less CO2 in 95% of the world.
The countries where electric cars are the most CO2 efficient include Sweden (which makes the majority of its electricity from renewable sources) and France (which is largely nuclear). In the UK, the CO2 saving from using electric cars instead of petrol and diesel ones is 30% – a figure that will rise as more renewable sources come online.
After energy generation method, the biggest criticism of electric cars centres on their lithium batteries, which tend to comprise base metals such as copper, aluminium and iron, and other materials at risk of becoming depleted and which require energy-intensive extraction. However, manufacturers say future battery technology will lessen their environmental impact.
With evidence such as this stacking up in favour of electric vehicles, it seems the only barriers to them becoming the norm are manufacturers making them more efficient (both in terms of consumption, raw materials and manufacture), and governments providing the necessary infrastructure and legislation.