Era trend: Electric vehicles run

Although there is clear evidence about the advantages of electric cars both in terms of cost savings, environmental protection and good health. However, there are still false information leading to the debate about whether the benefits of these media are real or only theoretical.

For example, the Australian newspaper The Australian recently published an article stating that electric vehicles in the country's east coast region emit more CO2 than gasoline-powered vehicles. The bases on which this article is based have not been published so far, so it is not possible to assess whether this article is true or false.

Instead, let us consider based on clear evidence that has been accepted.

First, let's determine exactly what is the total emissions

Emissions of vehicles include two types: greenhouse gases and toxic substances causing environmental pollution.

Electric cars have no direct emissions.

Vehicles using petrol and diesel emit primarily when running. These are direct emissions and contribute to increasing climate change while reducing air quality.

These vehicles also emit through the production and distribution of fuel. This is indirect emissions.

To fully measure the total emissions of a vehicle, we must add both direct and indirect emissions, ie emissions over the entire life cycle of the fuel.

How much does electric vehicles emit?

Electric cars have no direct emissions. Emissions of this vehicle are basically determined by indirect emissions, ie the emissions of the production and distribution of charging energy for the car's battery.

An Australian study found that on average each gasoline-powered vehicle in Australia emits both directly and indirectly a total of 588 grams of CO₂ equivalent / 1 km.

Meanwhile, a battery electric car (using grid electricity) emits 213 grams, about 40% lower than gasoline cars.

Even when using electricity produced from the least environmentally friendly materials, electric cars emit less

The emissions of electric vehicles depend on the power supply that the vehicle owner uses to charge the batteries made from what materials, such as coal, oil, rice husks, wind, etc. When applying the calculation factors In 2019, the country has the same methodology as the researchers calculated above, it is likely that Victoria's electricity grid will emit the most because it produces electricity mainly from brown coal. However, even in this state, the total emissions of an electric vehicle are still 20% lower than that of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle. In Tasmania, where renewable energy is mainly used, electric vehicle emissions are 88% lower than gasoline cars.

The researchers also compared electric cars of all sizes with gasoline cars of similar size, the results showed that electric cars always emit less.

Many electric cars do not need to be connected to the grid

The idea of ​​buying an electric car and installing a solar PV system on the roof is not new to many people.

In 2018, researchers approached owners of more than 150 electric cars (accounting for 2% of the country's individual electric cars) to conduct the survey. 80% of these cars are recharged at home, and 73% are solar chargers installed by the family on their own electricity generation systems. (Australia has 21.6% of all households use solar electricity on their own). 22% of the said owners had a car charger from the rooftop solar PV system, and another 53% planned to install it.

Some benefits from using electric vehicles

1. 1. Cost savings: Using electric cars saves 70-90% of the cost compared to gasoline cars.
2. 2. Ensuring fuel security : Until now, people still mainly use fossil fuels to produce energy while this resource is increasingly exhausted. Some countries cannot produce or produce very little, and depend mainly on imported fuels. So if people can switch to electric cars soon, the transportation system will be more secure.
3. 3. Healthy benefits: Toxic emissions from gasoline vehicles cause a very high risk of disease. In Australia, for example, pollution due to vehicle exhaust emissions is the cause of the deaths of more than 40% - 60% of deaths due to road accidents. Using electric vehicles will contribute to reducing such unworthy infant deaths.

The world's first electric car at the US Congress house

Video: A self-propelled electric vehicle that can carry 6 passengers