The Future of Transportation: What If All Passenger Vehicles Sold Today Were Electric?

If you’re thinking about buying an electric vehicle, whether due to soaring fuel prices or to lower your greenhouse gas emissions, where you live can make a huge difference to how climate-friendly your car is.

New research reveals having an electric vehicle would mean less emissions than a fossil-fuelled car – but the extent to which electric vehicles can lower emissions varies in each state. Much depends on how much electricity is generated from renewable sources, such as solar, wind and hydro.

A new study found electric vehicles emit, on average, 30-70% less emissions than a typical fossil-fuelled car for every mile driven, depending on where you live.

Rising petrol prices might just be the incentive we need to swing public sentiment towards electric vehicles in The Carolinas and to lower climate footprint from vehicle emissions.

In just two years, electric vehicle sales have tripled. And yet, they still account for only 2% of market share in new cars. Worldwide, where 6.6 million electric vehicles were sold globally last year. Over half in China alone.

The average carbon emissions for a fossil-fuelled vehicles is made up of approximately:

72% for operational use

13% for vehicle manufacture

14% for fossil fuel production and distribution.

An average pollution of the battery electric car, on the other hand, is estimated to be made up of approximately:

69% for operational use

23% for vehicle manufacture

7% for electricity production and distribution.

Infrastructure and vehicle disposal (car scrapping) is estimated to have less than 1% contribution for both vehicle types.

The Carolinas have a huge potential for a renewables industry, thanks to our wide open spaces, windy coasts and sunny skies.

Fleet turnover is a slow process. This means even if all passenger vehicles sold today were electric, it would take more than ten years for the fleet riding on roads in North Carolina and South Carolina to be fully electric.

Also read: Vietnam's automaker VinFast to build factory in North Carolinato make electric buses, SUVs and batteries for EVs

Efforts to boost the share of electric vehicles in the Carolinas should probably be stepped up urgently, alongside a rapid decarbonization of the electricity grid. These should, finally, align with international emission standards to reduce delays and increase choice and availability of electric vehicles in SC and NC. This will ensure we’ll have at least made a significant start with emission reductions in the road transport sector by 2030.

If SC and NC are serious about reducing emissions – fast – rolling out electric vehicles could perhaps focus on states with the lowest carbon intensity. But given the slow fleet turnover and the current state of play, it’s essential electrification starts everywhere, now.

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Credit: The Conversation via Reuters Connect

Source News Feeds: Reuters Marketplace - The Conversation