Contrary to what many critics claim, research shows that driving an EV produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than cars powered only by gasoline, writes Silvio Marcacci of think tank Energy Innovation in San Francisco. And much less pollution. This will only get better as the electricity mix becomes cleaner. … [Read more...]
Shortage of electric cars in Norway puts climate strategy at risk
Thousands of Norwegians are currently waiting for their new electric car as car sellers cannot keep up with the surge in demand. This highlights both the success and the risks of the rapid electrification of Norway’s car fleet, write Steffen Kallbekken, HĂĄkon Sælen, Erlend Hermansen and Elisabeth Lannoo of the CICERO Center for International Climate Research. They discuss the lessons the EU, currently reviewing the Clean Vehicles Directive, can … [Read more...]
Charging electric vehicles: the challenges ahead
Forget the latest Tesla announcement, writes John Massey. What is more important for the future of electric cars is how we will solve the challenge of charging them. Massey, an independent energy analyst and trainer, discusses the four main challenges of EV charging and concludes that the outcome of the process will depend on the interplay between electricity supply options, market operations, grid costs, policy choices and consumer behaviour … [Read more...]
Can the U.S. compete in the electric car war?
The U.S. needs a coherent, unified energy policy with respect to vehicle electrification and automation if it wants to keep up with China, write Leonard Hyman and William Tilles. U.S. and European auto manufacturers have equal or greater resources than their Chinese counterparts. But they don’t have the same level of government support – and therefore cannot rely on their domestic markets. Courtesy Oilprice.com. … [Read more...]
A solar transportation system?
Are solar-powered cars the future? According to David Hone, Chief Climate Change Advisor at Shell, solar augmentation, for example in the form of solar roofs, may become widespread by 2030. By 2050 a vehicle fleet requiring little to no net energy becomes a real possibility. Courtesy David Hone's Shell Climate Change blog. … [Read more...]
In the growing wave of climate litigation, could the automobile industry be next?
The oil industry is increasingly the focus of climate change litigation, writes Martin Olszynski, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Calgary. Carmakers have so far not been targeted, but Olszynski thinks that could change – especially if they continue to urge lawmakers to relax environmental standards and promote the sales of light trucks and SUVs. … [Read more...]
America’s electric vehicle future, part 2: EV price, oil cost, fuel economy drive adoption
Due to declining electric vehicle (EV) costs, growth in charging station access, and increased familiarity and acceptance by the public, EVs will play an ever-greater role in the U.S. transportation sector, writes Jeffrey Rissman of Energy Innovation, a San Fransisco-based energy and environmental policy think tank.  In part one of our analysis, we reported EVs are likely to represent at least 65% of sales in 2050, and with strong technology cost … [Read more...]
America’s electric vehicle future, part 1: 65-75% light-duty sales by 2050
Rapid battery cost declines, rising commitment from major automakers, strong policy support from state and local governments, and low operational costs (including discounted charging tariffs from utilities) have put electric vehicles (EVs) on track to pass gasoline-powered vehicles, writes Jeffrey Rissman of Energy Innovation, a San Fransisco-based energy and environmental policy think tank. Indeed, U.S. EV sales have grown an average of 32% … [Read more...]
Beyond oil: options for clean fuel production
Several options exist for clean fuel production in the long-term future, writes Schalk Cloete in the third and last part of a series on the future of the internal combustion engine. Next-gen biofuels have the potential to approach current oil prices at a low environmental cost. Hydrogen can be produced economically from excess wind/solar power, nuclear heat or fossil fuels with CCS. Ammonia and hydrocarbon synfuels from clean hydrogen can be … [Read more...]
Electric vehicles and the $5 trillion dollar market transition
Change in the world of wheels is accelerating! Momentum is building and some days it’s hard to keep up. Every week, the assumptions about the future of transportation, and the energy systems that turn our wheels, are becoming more Jetson-esque. Peter Tertzakian of Oilprice.com tries to distinguish the reality from the hype. "An electric car is not like a smartphone or a Netflix subscription." … [Read more...]
Can China’s EVs lead to peak oil demand?
China's decision on whether and when to ban cars burning gasoline and diesel could alter our view of how far we are from a peak in global oil demand, writes independent energy analyst Geoffrey Styles. Even though the likely date of such a peak is highly uncertain, the idea of an impending peak could significantly affect investments and other decisions. … [Read more...]
The future for gas guzzlers lies in hybridization
The car of the future will be a hybrid, writes independent researcher Schalk Cloete in the second part of a short series in which he compares costs and performance of various drivetrains. According to Cloete, improvements and cost reductions in electric motors and batteries will, ironically, help the internal combustion engine (ICE) through hybridization. These cost reductions combined with substantial engine downsizing can make hybrid … [Read more...]
Why the electric car hype is overblown
Electric cars offer no clear fuel cost savings relative to efficient internal combustion engine (ICE) options, writes independent researcher Schalk Cloete. CO2 and tailpipe emission benefits are also insignificant relative to efficient ICEs. As a result, notes Cloete, ICE vehicles will remain highly competitive with battery electric vehicles (BEVs). … [Read more...]
Petrol car ban won’t work without a huge investment in electric infrastructure
The UK government is proposing a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, in a move that echoes a recent announcement in France. Setting this sort of media-friendly target is a positive and welcome response to the challenge of air pollution across UK cities, write Richard Brooks and Jason Begley of Coventry University. But delivering the infrastructure, research and development support and incentives to switch to greener cars … [Read more...]
Does the 2040 ban on new petrol and diesel cars mean the death of biofuels?
One question that arises from the announcement by the UK government that new diesel and petrol cars will be banned by 2040 is what it means for biofuels. According to Raffaella Ocone of Heriot-Watt University, co-author of a recent UK-government-funded report into the biofuels industry by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the 2040 ban could be viewed as an opportunity for the biofuels sector. Article courtesy The Conversation. … [Read more...]
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