Despite the large amount of information available, there is still controversy around the transition to a fleet of electric vehicles. The supporters of gasoline vehicles – and, of course, oil companies – continue to argue that electric vehicles do not imply an environmental improvement with respect to gas or diesel vehicles, with more or less successful arguments.
We are going to review some of the main points wielded by the supporters of gasoline vehicles, to see which ones have something of truth, and which are simply false. To what extent does an EV help us reduce CO2 emissions? Continue reading this ecology article to know the answer this doubt
Does the production of an EVO emits more CO2 than that of a gasoline car?
The most repeated argument by gasoline fans suggests that the production of an electric vehicle requires higher CO2 emissions because battery manufacturing is much more intensive in energy terms. And this is true. From the extraction of the lithium necessary for the battery to its refining and the manufacture of the battery itself, this process consumes much more energy than the manufacture of a conventional car.
However, there are several aspects to consider that they immediately incline the balance in favor of EVS. First, this greater amount of initial emissions is more compensated as the EV develops its useful life. According to a study by Hannah Ritchie, the total emissions of an EV – when manufacturing and circulation – becomes lower than those of a gasoline vehicle from two years of use, on average.
In addition, if the electric vehicle circulates in a territory where the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources is very high, its total CO2 emissions will be still lower. And not just that. The manufacture of batteries can also be done more or less ecological depending on the amount of electrical energy from renewable sources used by the factory in question.
Result: Although manufacturing an EV consumes more energy than that of a conventional car, EVS broadcasts much less CO2 than a medium and long -term gasoline car.
Do EVS batteries stop working at five years?
Another argument wielded by the supporters of gasoline vehicles suggests that the batteries of electric vehicles stop working properly after about four or five years, which would force them to replace and multiply their CO2 emissions, because it would incorporate the emissions of the manufacture and installation of the new battery. However, this is not really the case.
Tesla – the manufacturer of EVS of reference in the West – manufactures its batteries so that they have a duration of 15 years, although it expects the battery to work 70% of its capacity after 8 years or 250,000 kilometers. The chemical assessments and other processes carried out during the battery manufacturing process monitor that the battery density is correct for correct durability.
Other studies suggest that Tesla’s batteries could last up to 35 years, depending on circulation conditions. And figures contributed by other manufacturers such as ByD also suggest operability ranges far greater than 15 years. Even the shortest forecasts allow electric vehicles to be much more environmentally respectful than gasoline vehicles.
Result: The duration of EVS batteries is far superior to that suggested by supporters of gasoline vehicles, which makes the EVS much more ecological.
Do CO2 emissions of the EVS move to the electricity grid?
Finally, an argument suggests that EVS do not emit less CO2 than gasoline cars, but simply transfer these emissions to electricity plants. This argument is false for several reasons, beginning with the fact that not all electric plants emit CO2. Nuclear energy and renewable energies are clean in this regard, so, the more they are in a country, the cleaner will be the evs that circulate in it.
In Spain, CO2 emission electricity constituted more than 69% of total production in 2023, with wind energy and nuclear energy leading production. Combined cycle plants accounted for 17.3%, while coal plants only constituted 1.5% of the electricity generated. Circular electric vehicle in Spain is really clean, and it will be even more in the coming years.
A problem worth mentioning is the capacity of the electricity grid, which is currently not prepared to feed a hypothetical vehicle park consisting of 100% EVS. The current electrical production capacity of Spain – and the rest of the world – must continue to grow to face the demand of EVS, but the transition is being gradual, so it is a more than assumable challenge.
Result: The electricity grid emits much less CO2 thanks to renewable power plants and nuclear energy, which makes the EVS much cleaner.
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