Abstract
The purpose of our work is to summarize and contextualize the on-going discussion about the ecological effects of electric vehicles. Key driver for the introduction of electric vehicles in Germany, besides resource scarcity, is the necessity to reduce CO2-emissions in the transportation sector. Even though the media already proclaims the ecological supremacy of electric vehicles over the conventional combustion engine, the scientific discussion still tries to find an answer to the question: Will the use of electric vehicles as substitutes for conventional combustion engines significantly reduce the CO2-emissions in the transportation sector? Well known experts from Germany as well as European and American scientists picked up this task and tried to find the solution. However, as at the moment less than 5,000 electric vehicles are currently driving on German roads, the database is very limited and therefore the studies need to deduce estimates for key determinates for the emission comparison, which leads to a broad variety in the results. Within our study we compare the most important and up-to-date studies with respect to the German market to derive the potential outcomes of an emission comparison. Resulting from this study we will be able to contextualize the test drive within the model region Bremen/Oldenburg. Furthermore, the data from the model regions could be used to verify the scope of the different studies and the reliability of the different estimates used. Finally, we will be able to draw a realistic picture of the potential ecological effects of electric vehicles.
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Notes
- 1.
According to the classification of the German Federal Motor Vehicle Office (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt), micro cars include the Smart Fortwo or the Fiat 500, examples of small cars are the VW Polo and Opel Corsa, and typical compact cars are the VW Golf and Opel Astra.
- 2.
Differences in well-to-tank emissions can be neglected: Since (Helmers 2010: 574) only observes TtW emissions, WtT emissions have been added based on (JRC 2007), taking into account the current biofuels share in German fuel. (Richter and Lindenberger:64) also consider the biofuels share in the calculation of WtT emissions.
- 3.
This study does not state combined figures, and for the comparison in this chapter urban and extra-urban figures have been averaged.
- 4.
Assumptions and data sources:
-
BEV consumption: small/micro car 15 kWh/100 km; compact car 20 kWh/100 km (derived from reviewed studies)
-
CV WtW emissions: small/micro diesel car 124 g/km; compact diesel car 158 g/km (derived from reviewed studies)
-
DE electricity mix 2010 according to (UBA 2009)
-
Power plant emission factors according to (Öko-Institut 2010)
-
- 5.
Assumptions and data sources:
-
BEV consumption: 15/20 kWh/100 km (small/compact car, derived from reviewed studies)
-
Future CV WtW emissions (small petrol car/ compact diesel car): average derived from reviewed studies
-
DE electricity mix: for 2010 based on (UBA 2010); for 2020 and 2030 based on the reference scenario of (IER/RWI/ZEW 2009: 104)
-
- 6.
Figures are based on the so-called reference scenario, which assumes a fade-out of nuclear energy according to the 2002 revision of the Nuclear Energy Law (IER/RWI/ZEW 2009: 4).
Abbreviations
- BEV:
-
Battery-electric vehicles
- CO2 :
-
Carbondioxid
- CV:
-
Combustion vehicles
- CHP:
-
Combined Heat and Power
- ETS:
-
European Emission Trading System
- GHG:
-
Greenhouse gas
- NEDC:
-
New European Drivering Cycle
- RE:
-
Renewable energy
- TtW:
-
Tank to wheel
- WtW:
-
Wheel to wheel
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Gabriel, J., Wellbrock, P., Buchmann, M. (2014). Assessment of CO2-Emissions from Electric Vehicles: State of the Scientific Debate. In: Hülsmann, M., Fornahl, D. (eds) Evolutionary Paths Towards the Mobility Patterns of the Future. Lecture Notes in Mobility. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37558-3_14
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