Misconception: the electric car, it pollutes - Automobile Propre
Compared to diesel and gasoline cars, electric cars have an advantage in terms of pollution. But be careful to take into account all the parameters (production, use, etc.), and to consider all the pollutants.
This is the main hoax that is spread on the Internet and in conversations about the electric car. Many people are still convinced that the pollution of these vehicles is much higher than that of thermal models. Sometimes they even consider them an ecological disaster!
Yes, all motorized transport, regardless of the mode of propulsion, pollutes. But in reality, the bearers of this message take only part of the life cycle and not its entirety, and focus only on CO2.
The question of CO2
First, on the simple observation of CO2 , an electric vehicle pollutes three times less on its life cycle than thermal in France, provides Transport & Environment. It is a fact, many studies have proven it, for example with that of the ICCT in 2018 (see image). Production requires more energy, but in use, pollution is much less.
If you want to extrapolate abroad, as an example, we can cite a study from the University of Cambridge. It states that “driving an electric car is better for the climate than a conventional petrol car in [at least] 95% of the world”. Why this number? 53 of the 59 major markets are reporting a decline, and account for 95% of transport demand. The report confirms that emissions are "70% lower than thermal in countries like Sweden or France", compared to -30% in the United Kingdom. He also estimates that by 2050, with half of the electric car fleet, 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 would be saved per year, "the total of Russia's emissions".
CO2 rate according to car engine, in 2015 (source). These figures are now lower in electricity, the energy mix being different in 2020.
NOx and fine particles
At the same time, other pollutants remain, such as nitrogen dioxide (NOx) or fine particles PM2.5 or PM10. NOx are nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2), while fine particles are various polluting molecules. They include NOx, but also sulfur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), as well as carbon . The smaller these are, the more dangerous they are, entering the lungs and even the blood more easily. They are separated by their size, PM10 for the largest (10 micrometers), PM2.5 for the small ones, very fine PM1.0 and ultrafine PM0.1 (under 0.1 micrometer).
These molecules are not emitted directly by an electric vehicle motor. Some will say that the brakes also emit particles. Yes, it's true, but a diesel or gasoline car emits even more when braking. Precisely, an electric (or hybrid) vehicle has energy regeneration, reducing the use of the brakes.
Reminder, pollution due to transport (cars, trucks included) kills around 15,000 people in France each year. We are talking here about pollution from NOx and particles, mainly from the exhaust of internal combustion vehicles. Globally, air pollution, a large part of which is due to the latter, is the third leading cause of death behind tobacco and alcohol. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 7 million people die of it every year worldwide. In France, the government body Santé Publique France issued a number close to the 50,000 premature words in France.
An episode of fine particle pollution in Paris in 2016
Before and after use: batteries
Then come batteries, the central object of the attack against electric cars. The extraction and use of rare earths such as lanthanum, or metals (cobalt for example), is controversial. A complete article on the subject of rare earths has already been covered in depth on Automobile-Propre, with many sources of information.
Finally, there remains the "life after death" of the car. It's a fact, it's easy to dismantle a thermal car. However, in electric, the propulsion system and in particular the battery require special intervention. But beware, this does not mean that we do not know how to treat it and that it ends up in the trash.
Read also: Is the battery of an electric car recyclable?Conclusion, or the essentials of green electricity
If it cannot really be qualified as a "zero emission" vehicle, the electric car is undeniably cleaner than its petrol or diesel counterparts. In France, we also benefit from very low-carbon energy, one of the cleanest in the world. If the nuclear can lend to debates, we are witnessing a rise in power of renewable energies. In 2019, 71% of the energy consumed in France was nuclear, 11% hydraulic, 8% fossil (gas), 6% wind and 2% solar and 2% bioenergy according to RTE.
If you want to compare with other European countries or the rest of the world, the Electricitymap site gives the carbon intensity in real time. We note there on April 6, 2020 that France displays 26 g CO2 / kWh against 28 in Iceland, 30 in Norway and 35 in Uruguay. On the other hand, Poland is at 639 g CO2/kWh, Australia exceeds 500, South Korea is at 450, Germany is at 335.
In addition, many operators allow you to charge your car with green electricity. On public terminals, ChargeMap promises solar or wind energy, while at home, you can subscribe to an Engie or Total Direct Energie offer adding hydraulic energy.
Published in 2020 by the NGO Transport & Environment, this study evaluates the pollution of electric vehicles according to the energy mix of each country.