A new online calculator launched on November 30, giving Australian drivers an accurate comparison of how much carbon they will prevent from entering the atmosphere as a result of selecting an EV over a petrol or hybrid vehicle.
The Electric Vehicle Council’s new lifecycle emissions calculator compares the amount of emissions that EVs, petrol and hybrid cars produce from cradle to grave, based on factors including production, fuel lifecycle, and recycling.
It displays the vehicles’ CO2 emissions per kilometre and total lifetime emissions using electricity from the grid which changes for each state and territory.
The tool will help dispel myths about EVs’ environmental impact, says Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari.
“Our calculator shows EVs are miles ahead of petrol vehicles in terms of climate impact,” he explains. “We have adopted a conservative approach in our calculations to assume all EVs are being made in locations with low renewable energy uptake, when in reality, many EV factories globally are starting to source 100% renewable energy,” Jafari adds.
“Even with our conservative approach, the results show that, on average, EVs produce about half the emissions of comparable petrol cars over their lifetime, and close to a 40% improvement on hybrid vehicles across segments where hybrid vehicles exist.
“Electric vehicles are inherently more eco-friendly because they have zero exhaust emissions,” says Jafari.
“Even when charged using the existing electricity grid, EVs still produce lower net emissions than conventional petrol cars.
“As electricity grids become cleaner and battery recycling and repurposing keep improving, the environmental footprint of EVs will decrease even further.”
The lifecycle emissions calculator is one of a suite of resources that form the EVC’s new online consumer hub – a one-stop shop for Australian motorists considering the switch to EVs.
It includes a guide to charging EVs at home, a catalogue of EVs available in Australia, and clarifications to various myths and misconceptions.
Click here for the EVC emissions calculator.
