IT House News on December 18th: Electric vehicles have been in the spotlight in recent years, but their environmental protection has been controversial. Recently, an independent study from Germany provided a new perspective on this debate: Although electric vehicles will produce higher carbon emissions than fuel vehicles during the production process, that is, there will be greater "ecological debt" in the early stages of the life cycle. ”, but after a certain mileage, they will become cleaner.
The study, led by the German engineering association VDI Gesellschaft Fahrzeug, lasted two years and covered electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and combustion vehicles, analyzing their carbon emissions throughout their life cycles. Research has found that electric vehicles do produce more pollution during the production stage, mainly due to the high energy consumption and large emissions of the battery production process.
However, the researchers pointed out that as the mileage of electric vehicles increases, their carbon emission advantages gradually become apparent. The study found that electric vehicles currently need to travel 90,000 kilometers to become more environmentally friendly than internal combustion engine vehicles.
VDI Chairman Dr. Joachim Damasky said that after an electric car has traveled 200,000 kilometers, its cumulative carbon emissions are about 24.2 tons, while a diesel car of the same level will emit 33 tons, which is a full 36% higher.
IT Home noted that the study also gave affirmation to hybrid vehicles. believes that their carbon emissions after driving 200,000 kilometers are 24.8 tons, which is almost the same as pure electric vehicles.
However, the study also emphasized that electric vehicles still have a lot of room for improvement in terms of environmental protection. For example, if the electricity used by an electric car comes from fossil fuel generation, the range to achieve the carbon emission advantage will be extended to 160,000 kilometers.
Dr. Damasky pointed out that in order to further improve the environmental performance of electric vehicles, a multi-pronged approach is needed: first, developing a green power grid, second, reducing carbon emissions in the battery production process, third, promoting battery recycling, and fourth, actively promoting renewable Regarding energy, the fifth is to develop synthetic fuels, the sixth is to vigorously promote plug-in hybrid vehicles, and the seventh is to optimize the urban public transportation system, especially rail transportation.
The study shows that although electric vehicles have a carbon emission disadvantage during the production stage, they will be cleaner than fuel vehicles after driving a certain mileage. With the continuous advancement of battery technology, energy structure and related policies, the environmental protection advantages of electric vehicles will be further highlighted.
