What environmental impact could EVs have if everyone finally switched? What if everyone switched from petrol and diesel-powered cars to electric vehicles overnight? That seems hypothetical but would happen eventually.
The UK government plans to ban the sale of new fossil-powered vehicles by 2035. Similarly, it aims to bring all greenhouse emissions to zero by 2050.
With the public already embracing the adoption of EVs and home charging units, it’s a future fact that is rapidly approaching. When you think of the rising fuel prices and the fact that they contribute zero carbon emissions, it’s easier to understand why EVs are getting more popular in the UK.
That said, what then is the environmental impact of driving an electric vehicle?
How environmentally friendly is the production of electric vehicles?
You might think, “but EVs consume a lot of energy at their initial production stage?” That’s correct; the energy consumed in making electric cars is far more than conventional cars. But, even considering these whole processes, EVs are still a greener option than petrol cars.
EVs use lithium-ion batteries, which are produced from rare metals. The energy demands in extracting these materials and the entire production stages are enough to halt the ‘2035’ goals. However, as technology advances, we hope for advancements and a better production mechanism.
In 2019, for instance, Volkswagen started a scheme that targets to see 97% of all raw materials used in new electric vehicle batteries rеuѕеd by 2047. Amazing!
Are you worried about the electricity needed to fuel an EV?
According to research by the European Energy Agency, the carbon emissions of an EV are about 17-30% lower than a conventional car. In other words, despite electricity generation used to fuel an electric car, carbon emissions, driving a petrol-fueled car emits more carbon particles.
Luckily for our customers, each Boost EV design and installation has the option of a future-proof control panel. This helps with low-carbon electricity, which stands the test of time.
The efficiency of Electric Cars
Aside from the zero carbon emissions, another reason to adopt an EV is their higher efficiency ratings than conventional cars. The logic behind this is pretty simple: about 17-21% of fossil energy is converted during combustion to power a conventional car. On the other hand, electric vehicles can convert up to 60% of the electric energy to power their engines.
Whenever you think of switching to an EV, consider the range it can travel. This is similar to how many miles/gallon cars can go on the road. A petrol-powered car can probably have an average MPG of 24.7 miles-gallon. Compared to an EV, you can expect up to about 100 MPGe. That’s about x4 of a conventional car – impressive!
The Flexibility of Home Charging
Everyone won’t switch from driving a fossil-powered car to an EV overnight. But, by adopting a greener environment and government policies, the future looks greener and safer.
Likewise, the demand for home charging units is increasing simultaneously as more people embrace using EVs. Your home charger is a more convenient and safer option for charging your car. Moreover, you can reduce your energy bills and have more control.
Get in touch if you want to know more about how we can help you with a home charging unit.