Die größten Lügen über Elektroautos

electric cars run on coal”] 60% of respondents in an Allensbach survey doubt that electric cars are more environmentally friendly. Some critics claim that electric cars only use coal-fired electricity as an additional consumer and are therefore not more climate-friendly. However, there are several problems with this limit current calculation; more about this in this video. First: the fact that electric cars are “new consumers” does not mean that they have any less right to green electricity. They are no more responsible for coal-fired electricity on the grid than refrigerators, dryers or hair dryers. Second: in Germany, according to a survey by the Fraunhofer ISI, almost half of households with an electric car have their own photovoltaic installation. 84% have a green electricity contract, significantly more than the population average.

So you could say that electric cars support the expansion of renewable energy, especially on a small scale! Thirdly, electric cars are charged not only on windless nights, but throughout the year. You can't measure its climate benefits based on a few days of electric cars powering up yet another coal-fired power plant. As already mentioned, electric cars as additional storage could even compensate for energy fluctuations from renewables and thus ensure that we are less dependent on fossils. In 2021 and 2022, due to the economic recovery after Corona, the proportion of green electricity fell and the amount of CO2 per kilowatt hour increased.

First of all: bad. But even if the electric car runs on this poor 2021 electricity mix, when used it only emits half as much as the combustion engine. But the electric mix of the future is actually more relevant than the current electric mix. A combustion engine emits the same amount for every kilometer traveled, whether now or in 20 years. An electric car, on the other hand, benefits from more renewable energy that will be available in the future. In a global analysis, the ICCT analyzed CO2 emissions throughout the entire life cycle. According to this analysis, a European compact car registered in 2021 achieves an emissions advantage of 66-69%.

In 2030 and with renewable electricity it will even be 81%. [Indra: “I'm sure that's not sustainable because the client doesn't play along.” “It will never be this means of mass transportation” + “You will pay a good 60, 70,000 euros or even more.”] Well, then let's talk about money. In principle, electric cars are becoming cheaper to purchase. The environmental bonus has been reduced, but in 2023 it will still be 6,750 euros for buying an electric car for less than 40,000 euros. This year, Tesla and other manufacturers have offered discounts of several thousand euros several times. And the more electric cars there are on the market, the more there are on the used market.

But of course there is also fuel or electricity, parking, insurance, subsidies, etc. In studies that analyze the total cost of ownership, that is, the total costs, electric cars tend to be ahead of combustion engines after a while. Electric cars recover their higher purchase costs. However, the time this takes varies depending on the class of vehicle. In the case of SUVs and mid-range cars this happens after only three years, while in smaller cars it takes longer. This is because many manufacturers specialize in more expensive or larger cars due to the higher profit margin and the acquisition costs have until now been relatively high compared to combustion engines.

Compared to a small gasoline car, there is hardly any advantage, even if it is kept for a long time. These small electric cars are now available at much cheaper prices in China. If Chinese manufacturers such as BYD also offer these models in Europe, there is hope that this will change. There are still some minor savings: with the E license plate, parking is free in many cities in Germany and, in some cases, there are subsidies for the Wallboxes themselves and advice to reduce breakdowns. Over the entire life cycle, ADAC charges significantly lower costs for most electric cars, although the purchase price tends to be higher.

Well, what does that mean? In my opinion the issue is clear. Electric cars start their lives taking up more space thanks to the battery. But throughout its useful life this is compensated by greater efficiency. Electric cars benefit from an increasing share of green electricity, now and even more so in the future. It is not new that there are conflicts around the world in the extraction of raw materials. But this doesn't just happen with electric cars. However, something definitely needs to be done. The supply chain law is a start, but we need even more: seals for raw materials and their extraction, better recycling or batteries without conflicting raw materials.

Since our last documentary on the subject, which you can watch here, it has become increasingly clear that electric cars are the future. Thanks to a longer range and an ever-improving charging network, electric cars are definitely suitable for everyday use. You may have to make concessions on purchase costs and if you don't have the opportunity to charge regularly where you already are. But, and it's important for me to say, electric cars will not save the climate, and that is for the simple reason that cars are bad in and of themselves. Mobility by bicycle, bus and train is usually cheaper, healthier and, above all, more environmentally friendly.

But if you're really dependent on a car that you absolutely don't want to be without, there's no way around electric driving now and especially in the future. As always, stay curious, your Cedric.