Buy aelectric car In the hope of reducing one’s environmental impact, it may not be the right choice, at least not everywhere. New research, conducted by the University of Auckland in collaboration with the University of Xiann (China) and published in the magazine Energyshows a decidedly counterintuitive picture: The increase in the spread of electric vehicles can be associated with an increase in carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂)unless the electricity used to recharge them does not come from renewable sources.
More electric cars do not automatically mean less co₂
The researchers analyzed the data relating to 26 countries over 15 years, studying the environmental impact of human activity through an in -depth statistical approach. The result? In many contexts, the increase in the number of electric vehicles coincided with a Increase in CO₂ emissionsrather than a decrease.
This happens because in numerous countries the electricity necessary for the recharge of vehicles is still generated through fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. In these cases, the electric cars end up polluting more than traditional vehiclesif we consider the entire life cycle of the vehicle: from production to disposal.
As Simon Tao explains, learning at the Business School’s Energy Center of the University of Auckland:
The adoption of electric vehicles, globally, did not lead to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions. Indeed, it was positively associated with their increase. This result challenges the common idea that electric cars automatically help decarbonisation.
Only with green electric networks EV really helps to reduce carbon emissions
According to Professor Associated Stephen Poletti, to draw a real environmental advantage from electric vehicles is fundamental clean up the national electricity grid. If an electric car is recharged with energy produced by coal plants, it can contribute indirectly to higher emissions than a modern petrol or diesel vehicle.
The study points out that only when the global share of electricity from renewable sources will exceed about the 48%Then the adoption of electric vehicles will begin to significantly reduce Co₂ emissions. At 2023, the percentage of energy produced by renewable sources in the world was slightly higher than 30%so the road is still long.
In the case of New Zealand, however, the situation is different: beyond the80% of electricity It is generated by renewable sources such as hydroelectric, wind and sunny. This allows the country of maximize the environmental benefits deriving from the use of electric vehicles.
Poletti comments:
This study shows that the decarbonisation of the transport sector is not faced. Electric cars are as ecological are as much as the energy with which they are powered.
In order for electric cars to become a truly effective tool against climate change, public policies need to be promote the spread of renewable energies And improve electric infrastructure. This means:
In addition to the adoption of electric vehicles, the study has also analyzed other factors that influence emissions: economic growth, green technological innovation, use of renewable energy and urban density. The results show that:
As Tao points out:
The adoption of electric vehicles can contribute to the achievement of climatic objectives, but only if accompanied by a decisive transition to a truly clean energy.
