On the surface, it seems like EVs are the answer to the auto industry’s prayers – no fuel required and they do not contribute greenhouse gases to the environment. But what about the pollution that goes along with electricity generation? When EVs eventually reach a point of critical mass in the future, will we simply be trading one source of pollution for another? And, do we have the electricity-generating capacity to accommodate the new demands this will place on the system? These are issues not often discussed as part of the intense media attention that the electric vehicle sector receives. Part of the answer to those questions, it seems, is dependent upon the direction and developments that take place in the alternative energy sector. If wind, solar, or nuclear power are able to increase their share of domestic electricity production then there could be a net positive effect on the environment. At present, however, coal is responsible for roughly half of the electricity produced in the U.S. So where does that leave us?
Researchers are busy looking into this issue, and the Argonne National Laboratory has developed a model to measure energy use and emissions for different types of vehicles. The GREET (Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation) model, as it’s called, takes the entire cycle into account – from well to wheels. Recent studies from Argonne estimate that EVs would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 26% compared to gasoline vehicles, even considering the fact that the majority of our electricity is still created from coal. Other federally-funded studies have also indicated that if EVs are charged primarily at night, there would not be a need for new power plants. Furthermore, EV charging could take advantage of excess energy generated from renewable sources when it is available.
So, assuming all of the other variables (price, technology, consumer acceptance etc.) fall into place for EVs, we could indeed see a cleaner environment even without major strides in alternative or renewable energy sources right away.