Are EVs Risking or Saving the Planet?

Business Week: Are EVs Risking or Saving the Planet?

A new report states that EVs could potentially speed climate change rather than reduce it.

"Electric cars should be rewarded for their energy efficiency, not for moving emissions from exhaust pipes to powerstation chimneys" says the UK's Environmental Transport Association (ETA). In a report titled "How to avoid an electric shock—Electric cars: from hype to reality", the ETA has taken a close look at electric-powered vehicles (EVs) and their associated technologies. In what could be a shock to some commuters—and governments—the report states that EVs could potentially speed climate change, rather than reduce it, and might not be as good for the planet as some of the spin suggests. Simply put, it's not necessarily the cars themselves that will cause the damage, but the way the electricity is generated to power them and how often we drive them. For instance, EVs powered by "green energy"—wind or solar—are obviously superior, but if the electricity comes from coal, hybrids perform better.

Director at the ETA, Andrew Davis, said: "Whilst the report is not intended to dampen enthusiasm for electric vehicles, their introduction should not be viewed as a panacea; significant changes to the way we produce and tax power are needed before we will reap any benefits." ...

Solution: Electric cars and nuclear power plants. Nuclear is the new green. :-)

Comments

[phil_style]

However, once the technology arrives, it's MUCH easier to capture carbon emissions at a single point stack source (i.e. a generation station) rather than modifying thousands or millions of cars.

Sinlge source polluters are much easier to deal with that loads of mobile emitters. This goes with most types of pollution.

[Mr Rudi O'Neil]

I have read around this a little bit over the last couple of days and it really brings to light the fact that people simply must make way for the renewable energy that will eventually be needed to make electricity. In Britain people are up in arms about the fact that wind farms spoil sea views, but they seem a good alternative to the eyesore that is apocalypse.