EV production not so green
Ann Elise Taylor
9th June 2011
A new report confirms that electric and hybrid vehicles generate more carbon emissions during their manufacturing stages than standard vehicles do.
However, the study by the
Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) also shows that
low carbon vehicles are still greener when overall lifetime
emissions are measured.
The findings illustrate the importance of taking the emissions made during vehicles’
production, referred to as 'embedded carbon,’ into account, the LowCVP said.
"This work dispels the myth that low carbon vehicles simply displace emissions from the exhaust to other sources," LowCVP managing director Greg Archer said. "However, it does highlight the need to look at reducing carbon emissions from vehicles throughout their lifecycle."
Production emissions
According to the report, a standard gasoline vehicle’s production emits about 5.6 tonnes of CO2, with its estimated lifetime emissions measuring about 24 tonnes of CO2. On the other hand, a battery electric vehicle’s production gives off about 8.8 tonnes of carbon emissions, with estimated lifetime emissions of about 19 tonnes of CO2.
Given these numbers, about 46 per cent of a battery electric vehicle’s carbon emissions are made in the factory. Most of a battery electric vehicle’s emissions during production arise from the construction of its battery, an LowCVP release said. The method of the vehicle’s disposal contributes to its lifetime CO2 emissions as well, though to a smaller degree than its production.
The report also reveals that the carbon emissions for mid-sized petrol and diesel vehicles with similar lifetime mileages are the same, given diesel vehicles’ production emissions. It also shows that some
regulations that improve the recyclability, safety and air pollution reduction of vehicles can increase embedded carbon levels.
Improvements
Vehicle manufacturers are working to correct these problems, Archer said.
"The automotive industry is already taking positive steps to address this issue – the recent announcement by Toyota of a solar array to provide electricity to power the hybrid Auris production facility and wind power at the Nissan Leaf plant are excellent examples of this," Archer said.
According to the release, as the low carbon vehicle market continues to expand, monitoring embedded carbon levels will be essential to ensuring the cars’ eco-friendliness.
Common methodology
"Life cycle analysis is still in its infancy, with little defined process and standards," Neville Jackson, Ricardo chief Technology and Innovation officer and chairman of LowCVP, said. "The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership report is an important contribution to this type of analysis and highlights the need to work toward a common methodology and approach to deliver consistent and robust life cycle data on CO2 emissions."
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