The idea that a wholesale switch to electric cars would automatically reduce CO2 emissions and dependence on oil is one of a number of myths dispelled by a new report. ———- The Tesla Roadster EV offers greener motoring than gas-powered cars, but what if we all drove them? ———- The report, “How to avoid an electric shock: Electric cars from hype to reality,” was conducted by the European lobby group Transport & Environment. The report found that while there were significant potential environmental benefits to be had from a switch to electric vehicles, these were wholly dependent on changes in the way electricity was generated, energy taxed and carbon-dioxide emissions regulated. Current EU legislation contains loopholes that are likely to lead to emissions and oil use going up. How could electric cars increase emissions? Binding EU targets for car CO2 emissions agreed last December include “super credits” that enable carmakers to sell up to 3.5 SUVs for every electric vehicle they sell and still reach their official EU target. Electric cars are also counted as zero-emissions vehicles despite the fact that the electricity they use can come from high-carbon fossil fuels such as coal The combined effect of these loopholes would be that carmakers that choose to market electric cars to meet EU targets would have to do less to reduce emissions of conventional cars. The overall effect would be higher CO2 emissions and oil use. According to the report, the most certain way to promote electric-powered transport is to tighten long-term CO2 standards for cars to 80 g/km by 2020 and 60 g/km by 2025 while at the same time increasing fuel taxes. A lack of…
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European Law Means Electric Cars Could Speed Climate Change, Group Reports