Electric Vehicles are not a Panacea for Climate Change
Apr 17, 2019
Electric vehicles will barely help cut CO2 emissions in Germany over the coming years, as the introduction of electric vehicles does not necessarily lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions from road traffic. Natural gas combustion engines are the ideal technology for transitioning to vehicles powered by hydrogen or “green” methane in the long term.
Considering Germany’s current energy mix and the amount of energy used in battery production, the CO2 emissions of battery-electric vehicles are, in the best case, slightly higher than those of a diesel engine, and are otherwise much higher. This has been confirmed by a new study by Christoph Buchal, professor of physics at the University of Cologne; Hans-Dieter Karl, long-standing ifo energy expert; and Hans-Werner Sinn, former ifo president and professor emeritus at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. The researchers carried out their detailed calculations using the concrete examples of a modern electric car and a modern diesel vehicle. In addition to CO2 emissions from battery production, they looked at alternative energy sources for electricity in order to calculate the impact electric vehicles have on CO2 emissions. They show that even with today’s technology, total emissions from a combustion engine powered by natural gas are already almost one-third lower than those of a diesel engine. “Over the long term, hydrogen-methane technology offers a further advantage: it allows surplus wind and solar power generated during peaks to be stored, and these surpluses will see a sharp increase as the share of this renewable energy grows,” Professor Buchal explains.
In their study, the authors criticize the fact that EU legislation allows electric vehicles to be included in calculations for fleet emissions with a value of “zero” CO2 emissions, as this suggests that electric vehicles do not generate any such emissions. The reality is that, in addition to the CO2 emissions generated in the production of electric vehicles, almost all EU countries generate significant CO2 emissions from charging the vehicles’ batteries using their national energy production mixes. The authors also take a critical view of the discussion about electric cars in Germany, which centers around battery-operated vehicles when other technologies also offer great potential: hydrogen-powered electric vehicles or vehicles with combustion engines powered by green methane, for instance. “Methane technology is ideal for the transition from natural gas vehicles with conventional engines to engines that will one day run on methane from CO2-free energy sources. This being the case, the German federal government should treat all technologies equally and promote hydrogen and methane solutions as well,” emphasizes Professor Sinn.
Paper published at link above (although in German).
It's always been said that electric cars merely move the emissions from the tailpipe (of the car) to the smokestack (of the electric generating plant).
I didnt. I bought it because it was cool to drive. I dont have to buy gas. I care less about the environment. I leave my outside flood lights on all nite, every nite and I usually have at least 3 tvs on 24 hours a day, unless im gone...then just one. Yes tv is on when im sleeping too. When I get my solar panels all on, I wont even be generating 'smokestack' pollution. My RVs have had solar panels for a couple of years, but they do get 5-10 mpg on the road. Im waiting for the Roadster to come out too...then ill have 2.
I didnt. I bought it because it was cool to drive. I dont have to buy gas. I care less about the environment. I leave my outside flood lights on all nite, every nite and I usually have at least 3 tvs on 24 hours a day, unless im gone...then just one. Yes tv is on when im sleeping too. When I get my solar panels all on, I wont even be generating 'smokestack' pollution. My RVs have had solar panels for a couple of years, but they do get 5-10 mpg on the road. Im waiting for the Roadster to come out too...then ill have 2.
Solar cells are also by far NOT saving the planet.
The problem of solar panel disposal “will explode with full force in two or three decades and wreck the environment” because it “is a huge amount of waste and they are not easy to recycle.” “The reality is that there is a problem now, and it’s only going to get larger, expanding as rapidly as the PV industry expanded 10 years ago.” “Contrary to previous assumptions, pollutants such as lead or carcinogenic cadmium can be almost completely washed out of the fragments of solar modules over a period of several months, for example by rainwater.”
- research scientists with the German Stuttgart Institute for Photovoltaics.
Thanks. Made me smile.
