Trade-off avoidance
Going-Electric's contribution to Question 5. of the European Commission's Consultation for a European strategy on Clean and Energy-efficient Vehicles.
Question 5: How can a trade-off situation be avoided where electrifying the power train would reduce or reverse improvements made in conventional technologies in the framework of existing and upcoming legislation on the CO2 emissions of road vehicles?
The reverse question would be more appropriate: “How can a trade-off situation be avoided where improvements made in conventional technologies in the framework of existing and upcoming legislation on the CO2 emissions would reduce or reverse electrifying power trains?”
Indeed, the table below show the reduction in the CO2 emission and urban pollution generated by cars and in the oil consumption by cars, under four scenarios:
- Replacing all Internal Combustion Vehicles (ICVs) by a mix of 25% large Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), 25% ultra-small BEVs and 50% Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs).
- Reducing the average ICV consumption by 25%, i.e. lowering the car’s average CO2 emission from about 160 g CO2/km to 120 g CO2/km (as per EC Regulation No 443/2009).
- Imposing 10% biofuels in transport (as per Directive 2009/28/EC).
- Combining scenarios 2 and 3.
Reduction in: |
CO2
emissions |
OIL
consumption |
Urban
pollution |
1. Replacing ICVs by EVs |
55%* |
85% |
85% |
2. ICVs: 160 --> 120 g CO2 /km |
25% |
25% |
±25% |
3. 10% Biofuels in automotive** |
5% |
10% |
±0% |
4. Both above measure together |
29% |
33% |
±25% |
Above figures show the impact on car related emissions, consumption and pollution.
* With European 2006 average electricity mix (443 gCO2/kWh – source: JRC).
** Assumes that biofuels save 50% greenhouse gas emissions and 100% oil consumption.
Above table shows that scenario 1 is much more effective than scenario 4: Replacing ICVs by Electric Vehicles (EVs) brings far more benefits than trying to make ICVs cleaner by imposing emission reductions and biofuels. Furthermore, EVs will be even cleaner in the future: their CO2 emissions will further diminish together with the diminution of electricity generation emissions. EVs are clearly the way to go for a European strategy targeting clean and energy-efficient vehicles.
While improving ICVs may bring benefits in the short and medium term, it is putting effort in a obsolescent technology. Also, biomass would be better used in applications other than cars, such as electricity generation and production of biofuels for vehicles that cannot be electrified (such as airplanes).
The concern should not be about trade-offs, it should be about concentrating efforts and money and gaining competitive advantages in the technology that is the most likely to bring the maximum level of improvements in the near and medium future – and this technology is clearly EVs. Doing so would provide a great opportunity to revitalize the EU car industry and position it worldwide on the leading edge.
On the other hand, concentrating efforts and money into ICVs is “beating a dead horse”.
It detracts resource from preparing for the future.
It may seriously hamper the future of the EU car industry.
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