Electric Car Charging Can Create More Emissions Than Fueling
New study shows that in regions highly dependent on coal for electricity, plug-in vehicles are not always more green.
By Claire_Martin 19 hours ago
Eighteen percent of Americans live in regions where charging an electric vehicle like the Chevy Volt, which burns no gasoline, emits more global warming pollutants than some gasoline-fueled cars do, according to a new study by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Whereas electric vehicles that are charged with renewable sources of energy, including wind and solar power, produce almost no global warming emissions, those charged on grids dependent on coal-burning power plants have much higher emissions.
The worst region in the country for charging emissions? The Rockies. "The Rocky Mountain grid region (covering Colorado and parts of neighboring states) has the highest emissions intensity of any regional grid in the United States, which means an [electric vehicle] will produce global warming emissions equivalent to a gasoline vehicle achieving about 33 mpg," according to the study. "Gasoline-powered cars with fuel economy at this level include the Hyundai Elantra (33 mpg) and the Ford Fiesta (34 mpg)."
While charging in this region is still an improvement over the emissions generated by the majority of fuel-burning vehicles, it's not the zero-emissions equation most people think they're signing up for when they buy an electric vehicle.
"This will certainly make it clear that even with no tailpipe emissions, there are emissions associated with charging [an electric vehicle]," Don Anair, one of the UCS researchers, told the Detroit Free Press.
The good news is that electric vehicles do minimize emissions in most of the country. On the coasts, where grid energy is cleanest, charging an electric vehicle produces emissions equivalent to a gasoline-burning vehicle that gets as much as 50 miles per gallon. In Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida and parts of the South and Midwest, that number drops to 41 to 50 miles per gallon -- similar to what hybrids achieve. In most of the Midwest, the average is 31 to 40 miles per gallon.
Cutting back further on emissions will require a larger effort, according the UCS study: "[Our] nation’s reliance on coal-powered electricity limits electric vehicles from delivering their full potential," UCS researchers wrote. "Only by making improvements to our electricity grid—by decreasing the use of coal and increasing the use of clean and renewable sources of electricity—will electric vehicles deliver their greatest global warming and air pollution benefits."
I long thought that having hybrids or fuel battery electric cars aren't the answer to our fuel crisis. We are substituting things. I think we need to think more outside the box. Such as water power cars, not steam engine, or hygrogen powered cars. Both of these technology have been done before, but due to the expensive R&D they have been shut down by the manufactures.
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