Electric vehicles, renewable energy and recycled materials
The aim in the UK is to generate 30% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Electric vehicles will be powered mainly from off peak electricity, which will help to level the loads from intermittent supplies. There are also efforts to develop small scale renewable energy technologies, so that electric vehicles can be powered by onsite wind or solar energy. The data in this report is based upon electricity generated by a generally inefficient, wasteful European electricity grid, which has evolved due to the availability of cheap fossil fuels. The electric vehicle assessed is based on a chassis designed for an internal combustion engine, rather than a purpose built, lightweight chassis designed for electric vehicles.
The report states that the production phase of EVs proved substantially more environmentally intensive than that of ICEVs. Nonetheless, substantial overall improvements in regard to global warming and terrestrial acidification and other impacts may be achieved by EVs powered with appropriate energy sources, rather than from electricity produced from oil, coal, and lignite combustion.
The authors do state in their concluding remarks that the electrification of transportation should be accompanied by a sharpened policy focus with regard to life cycle management, and thus counter potential setbacks in terms of water pollution and toxicity. The indirect nature of these emissions which are embodied in internationally traded commodities such as copper, nickel, and electricity challenges us as a society. It poses the question of how serious are we about life cycle thinking, and how much control and oversight we, customers, and policy makers believe should be exerted across production chains.
