Total carbon emissions in the UK will be cut by almost 12% if the country exclusively uses battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in future, a new study shows.
Research by Nottingham Trent University shows that 42 million tons of CO2 (MtCO2) will be removed from the atmosphere in the UK – a reduction of 11.89% of the UK’s 351.5 MtCO2 total emitted last year.
The analysis offsets the increase in carbon emissions for the electricity grid, which is required to power the country’s 32 million cars and taxis if they were switched to BEVs.
The study shows the switch is found to save 14% from the total carbon emissions, but will also cause an increase in carbon emissions from electricity power stations of about 2.1% for the additional electricity needed, resulting in net savings of about 11.89%.
The research – by PhD candidate George Milev, from the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment – considers BEVs currently used in the UK, including the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Jaguar I-Pace, and more.
“These are encouraging findings and show just how much impact the switch to electric cars could have,” said Milev.
“In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are regularly seeing reports on how the environment has benefitted from the decreased use of combustion engines.
“If and when the UK moves exclusively to electric car usage, we will similarly see real benefits in the dramatic reduction in levels of CO2.”
Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that there were 38.9 million vehicles on UK roads last year, 32 million of which were cars.
However, new registrations for BEVs reportedly totalled just 27,000 during 2019.
According to the DfT, last year newly-registered BEVs included: Tesla Model 3 (5,500), Nissan Leaf (4,500), Jaguar I-Pace (3,600), BMW i3 (3,400), Volkswagen e-Golf (2,900), Renault Zoe (2,900), Nissan E-NV200 (1,500), Tesla Model S (1,400), Tesla Model X (1,400).
Current transport emissions are said to stand at 119.6 MtCO2 per year. But beyond 2040, this could be reduced to 69 MtCO2 per year, shows the study.
This suggests that if BEVs replaced all petrol, diesel and hybrid cars in the UK, CO2 emissions from the transport sector will be reduced by 42.3%.
Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh, a professor of intelligent engineering systems, who supervised the study, said: “Clearly there is a long way to go until electric vehicles are commonplace, which is when we will start to see the real environmental benefits of this emerging technology.
“Electric cars have the advantage in reducing pollution, particularly in busy cities, which will also help supporting healthy living.”
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