New and extensive research by the universities of Cambridge, Exeter, and Nijmegen – in The Netherlands, shows that in 95% of the world, driving an electric vehicle is better for the environment and climate.
Significant Drop in Lifetime Emissions
The conducting experiments prove that average “lifetime” carbon emission levels from electrical cars are up to 70% lower than petrol vehicles in countries such as France and Sweden where most of the electricity is generated through nuclear and renewable sources.
The studies project that by 2050 every second car in the world would be electric. This will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1.5 gigatonnes per year. This is equivalent to the number of carbon emissions generated currently by Russia alone!
Electric Cars Won’t Solve the Carbon Emission Problem
Replacing every second fossil-fuel vehicle with an electrical car won’t solve all transportation-related environmental problems.
To attain the desired objective, society and automative manufacturers must overcome several hurdles, such as:
- Shifting the global car fleet to electric by 2050.
- Finding ways that won’t put a huge strain on facilities used for the generation and supply of clean energy.
- Reducing pollution caused by the tire abrasion while braking.
Researchers believe that a major social change would be necessary to effectively impact the current levels of carbon emission.
While electrification is necessary, it won’t be enough. To meet the set climate goals, travel demand reductions of at least 20% are required. Also, people must shift away from the car and use other means of transportation when possible.
Reducing CO2 emissions isn’t a climate inconvenience but an emergency that must be taken seriously and dealt with immediately.