Are electric cars eco-friendly?

This article will tell you about:

• the transport industry’s contribution to global CO2 emissions,
• the main advantages of electric cars from an ecological point of view,
• whether the electric car is environmentally friendly compared to combustion cars,
• the importance of recycling used batteries in electric cars,
• how much less harmful greenhouse gases are generated by electric cars,
• the carbon footprint of electric cars,
• the stage of advancement of electromobility in Poland compared to other countries,
• how much less “clean” hybrid cars are than electrics,
• whether the claim that electric cars are not eco-friendly is fact or myth.

We answer these and many other questions about electric cars and ecology by referring to current studies and reports. Happy reading!

Transport and emissions of CO2 and greenhouse gases

Although successive stricter emissions standards for cars and lorries are forcing the automotive industry to use the latest emission-reducing technologies, the figures reveal the brutal truth. In 2016, it was reported that almost 30% of the total carbon dioxide emissions in the European Union are generated by transport, of which road transport is responsible for over 70%. By comparison, civil aviation emitted as much carbon dioxide as water transport – just over 13%^[1].

Combining this with the fact that the number of cars produced in the world is increasing year by year, we can see that reducing transport emissions is now becoming one of the most important challenges of modern civilisation. Environmentally friendly green cars appear to be a solution which, if adopted globally, could allow a measurable reduction in the pollution generated by road transport.

Electric car ecology – discover the key benefits

Leaving aside the fact that combustion engine cars still make up the majority of vehicles on the roads in Europe, the growth in popularity of electrics is noticeable and increasing every year. The fact that electric cars, often described as the greenest of cars, are becoming increasingly common on our streets is due to their numerous advantages, such as:

• no exhaust fumes – the electric motor produces virtually no pollution, and you can use renewable energy sources, such as your own photovoltaic system, to charge the battery,
• better performance – electric units in many cases outperform combustion engines in terms of efficiency,
• simple design and longer life – electric cars are not only regarded as environmentally friendly, but are also less prone to breakdown than their combustion engine counterparts. In addition, servicing such a vehicle is also much quicker,
• smooth, quiet operation,
• independence from rising fuel prices and supply restrictions,
• safety – according to many experts, the construction of electric cars, including the absence of a fuel tank, significantly increases the safety of using this type of vehicle.

Of course, these are not all the reasons why you should replace your old combustion engine car with an electric car. Other benefits include the possibility to enter low-emission zones (where, for example, diesel cars are increasingly not allowed), the chance to obtain a subsidy for the purchase of an environmentally friendly electric car or the opportunity to use free parking.

The environmental impact of electric cars? Up to 3 times less CO₂!

Research over the years has confirmed the positive impact of electric cars on the environment.   According to available analyses, throughout the life cycle of vehicles, it is the exploitation phase that is associated with the highest environmental pollution. In this respect, electric cars outperform other car models by, among others, generating a significantly lower carbon footprint.

It is worth noting that the eco-efficiency of e-cars is directly proportional to a country’s specific energy mix. Nevertheless, even in countries where the energy mix is based on fossil fuels, the environmental impact of electric cars is still significantly lower than that of combustion engine cars.

In the most developed EU countries, where the percentage of renewable energy generation is the highest, an electric car generates up to 50% less CO₂ over its lifetime compared to a diesel car. For comparison, in Poland, electric cars emit on average 25% less carbon dioxide than diesel vehicles ^[2].

A 2016 report by the European Climate Foundation and the Fondation pour la Nature et pour l’Homme, in collaboration with partners including the WWF, Renault and battery manufacturers, clearly shows that the smallest electric cars can emit up to 63% less greenhouse gases in urban conditions, three times less than diesels^[3].

Cars and ecology – the challenge of battery recycling

When asked whether electric cars are green, many people express their doubt, based not on the way electric cars operate per se, but on the technology used to produce them. Above all, attention is drawn to the process of construction of the batteries that power these types of vehicles. They are generally fitted with lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese batteries, the production of which involves large quantities of carbon dioxide emissions. Studies show that 1 kWh of battery capacity can “cost” the environment up to 200 kg of released CO₂ ^[4].

Manufacturers are constantly looking for solutions to make the production of batteries for electric cars more environmentally friendly. Just as much attention is now being paid to recycling these types of batteries, as a way to balance the pollution generated during production. According to a Greenpeace report, nearly 13 million tonnes of nickel-ion batteries from electric cars will be depleted worldwide by 2030 ^[5].

Fortunately, recycling of used batteries is possible. Most of their components can be reused. The example is set by Tesla, which declares that none of the damaged or end-of-life batteries used in its vehicles go to a landfill, and that efficient recycling allows up to 92% of the components to be recovered.

Carbon footprint: electrics vs. combustion cars

The carbon footprint, which is the total amount of greenhouse gas emitted by a product over its full life cycle, also tells us whether electric cars are green. According to a report prepared by the ICCT (International Council of Clean Transport), the carbon footprint of electric cars powered by renewable energy is up to 81% lower than their combustion-powered counterparts. The more kilometres an electric car travels, the faster the “carbon debt” taken on at the battery production stage, among others, will be reduced^[6].

Hybrids – not so “clean” after all?

Compared to purely electric cars, hybrid cars also prove to be significantly less environmentally friendly. This is understandable – after all, in addition to an electric motor, they also have a combustion engine. This places them a level above cars that run on petrol or diesel alone, but they are still not as “clean” as fully electric cars.

What does electromobility look like in Poland?

The latest figures show that at the end of 2021, more than 38,000 electric cars were registered in Poland. It is worth noting that almost half of these are purely electric – the remainder are hybrid vehicles. In 2021 alone, more than 20,000 “plug-in” cars joined our roads, showing that electromobility can become a strong trend even in a country whose energy industry is so overwhelmingly based on coal^[7].

Green electric cars – myth or fact?

The research and analysis results cited above clearly demonstrate that although electromobility is an emerging industry worldwide, the environmental impact of electric cars is already significantly lower than that of combustion engine cars. In the coming years, with the development of new technologies, we can expect even better results in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The challenge for automotive companies is undoubtedly increasing the emphasis on recycling used batteries. This will help to reduce the amount of waste and limit the exploitation of natural resources. However, given the numerous reports cited in this article on the emissions and the carbon footprint of electrics, among others, it should be clear that environmentally friendly, green cars are currently by far the least emitting and cleanest form of road transport we can afford.

 

Sources:

[1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/pl/headlines/society/20190313STO31218/emisje-co2-z-samochodow-fakty-i-liczby-infografika

[2] https://www.cire.pl/artykuly/elektromobilnosc-materialy-problemowe/czy-samochody-elektryczne-sa-ekologiczne

[3] https://www.autocentrum.pl/newsy/samochody-elektryczne-bardziej-ekologiczne-nawet-dwu-trzykrotnie/

[4] https://www.katowice.eu/SiteAssets/dla-mieszka%C5%84ca/eko-artyku%C5%82y/Czy%20samoch%C3%B3d%20elektryczny%20jest%20bardziej%20ekologiczny%20%E2%80%93%20katowice%20dla%20odmiany%20klimatu.pdf

[5] https://www.auto-swiat.pl/wiadomosci/aktualnosci/zasypia-nas-miliony-ton-zuzytych-baterii-z-aut-strasza-eksperci/j4nhefk

[6] https://www.auto-swiat.pl/wiadomosci/aktualnosci/slad-weglowy-aut-spalinowych-i-elektrycznych/6xj3j8j

[7] https://www.wyborkierowcow.pl/samochody-elektryczne-w-polsce-2022/