Are EVs Risking or Saving the Planet?

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Costs vs consumer acceptance
Among the battery types, lithium-ion batteries seem to be most promising, although the report says no studies predict their costs to reduce rapidly:

There is potential for improvement in performance and reduction of costs in the medium term, but not enough to suggest electric cars could compete head-on with conventional vehicles within the next two decades.

Then there's the environmental impact "unknowns" of battery disposal and recycling as research data is scant.

As expected with most new technologies, electric and hybrid vehicles are more expensive to buy than their conventional counterparts. However, they are designed to be cheaper to run and, in many cases, the fuel cost-savings completely outweigh the initial costs of the vehicle. The reports says that even the most expensive option, a fully-electric car, reduces CO2 at acceptable costs to society (below €100/tonne or US$150/tonne approx.).

However, the ETA's report has likened EVs to a double-edged sword—high upfront costs prevent large market take-up, while low running costs lead to extra demand for car transport, and therefore, more electricity production.

The ETA says that in order for these technologies to play a big role in our future transport system both issues need to be addressed. That suggests this could be done through innovative business models and through smart government policies:

EU policy recommendations
The latter should focus on fostering these business models and keeping avenues open for taxation of electricity. On-board metering of electricity use would be a key requirement.

The ETA is convinced electric and plug-in hybrid cars can help reduce CO2 emissions and oil consumption. It says EU law, particularly the regulation to reduce CO2 from cars, has been instrumental in steering car industry investment towards cleaner powertrains.

Carrot and stick approach
In theory, the ETA believes the EU emissions trading system implies that plug-in electric cars would not increase CO2 emissions, because the power sector is covered by the scheme.

But those same laws have important flaws. And if they remain unchanged, sales of electric cars will likely lead to higher overall CO2 emissions and oil consumption. That may be counter-intuitive, but it is nevertheless true.

Electrification of the transport sector is an opportunity. It would be highly unfortunate if electric cars become just another missed opportunity like the failure of biofuels and hydrogen before. That is entirely possible. But it can be avoided.

The ETA report highlights three aspects of EU legislation that it feels need to be changed if electric cars are to be a success.

1. CO2 standards for cars should be tightened

The best way to make electrification of transport a reality is to significantly tighten long-term CO2 standards for cars to 80g/km by 2020 and 60g/km by 2025, and to ramp up fuel taxes. This gives the industry the long-term security it needs for investments in low-carbon car technology and infrastructure. Focusing on fostering electric cars without tightening CO2 standards will be self-defeating as it takes away the main incentive for industry to invest in making electrification a reality.

Zero-CO2 rating and supercredits for electric cars must be abolished; electric cars should be rewarded for their energy efficiency, not for moving emissions from exhaust pipes to powerstation chimneys.

2. Quantity and quality of electricity used in EVs must be measured

Vehicle on-board metering is likely to be critical in managing and regulating the demand and quality of electricity delivered to electric vehicles.

3. The power sector has to be decarbonized

Existing loopholes in the ETS need to be closed and the cap further tightened, strong post-2020 targets for renewable energy in the power sector could be pursued along with emissions performance standards for power stations.

The key findings of the report are summarized at the ETA site.

Provided by Gizmag.com—ideas, innovation, invention

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