The Sustainable Drive Exploring the Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicles

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated December 20, 2024

Contributions sourced from

The Sustainable Drive: Exploring the Benefits of Electric Vehicles

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, the topic of electric vehicles (EVs) may seem like a distant hum. So, why should you care about EVs, you ask? Whether you are a tech enthusiast intrigued by the latest innovations or a commuter pondering the environmental impact of your ride, the EV revolution has something for everyone.

Let us unravel the motivations behind this sustainable drive, explore the perks of driving electric, and shed light on the charging infrastructure that is sparking this green revolution together.

The Evolution of EVs

The inception of EVs began in the 1800s, when a sequence of innovations from batteries to electric motors, paved the road for the birth of the first EV. The allure of EVs in the early days was undeniable they were quiet, easy to drive, and spared the world from the emissions that plagued their steam and gasoline counterparts.

However, EVs faced a setback with little advancement, overshadowed by cheap gasoline and the relentless progress of internal combustion engines. A resurgence of interest emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with automakers exploring alternative fuel options, including electric cars. Yet, it was not until the 1990s that EVs truly hit the accelerator, transforming popular vehicle models into high-performance electric counterparts, bringing them on par with their gasoline-powered peers.

The turning point arrived in the late 20th century, marked by the introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997. As the worlds first mass-produced hybrid EV, the Prius swiftly gained global acclaim, spearheading a shift in consumer perception. Simultaneously, a Silicon Valley maverick, Tesla Motors, declared its intent to produce a luxury electric sports car with a range exceeding 200 miles on a single charge, reshaping the industrys landscape.

Sustainable Transportation in the Modern Era

Fast forward to the present day and consumers find themselves spoiled for choice, navigating a landscape where EVs offer an array of options, showcasing the remarkable evolution from humble beginnings to a diverse and dynamic market.

The sustainable drive can be attributed to a heightened awareness of environmental issues, a desire for energy independence, and the need for clean and green mobility. In Singapore, EVs have also been gaining momentum recent data reveals a notable surge, with 486 new electric cars registered in July 2023, accounting for 20.4% of the total 2,382 passenger cars introduced to the roads during that month. This marks a significant increase from June 2023, when the share of electric cars stood at 18.5% and is also a remarkable leap from the end of 2022 when the percentage was only 11.7%.

The Benefits of Driving Electric

As Singapore embraces this global trend, it is essential to explore the benefits of driving electric cars and the role of EV charging infrastructure in making this shift seamless.

Positive Environmental Impact

With zero tailpipe emissions, electric vehicles contribute significantly to reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change. In countries like Singapore with a significant share of renewable energy sources in their electricity generation mix, the adoption of EVs aligns perfectly with our commitment to a cleaner, greener future.

Reducing Dependency on Finite Resources

The advantages of driving EVs extend to resource conservation. Unlike traditional vehicles relying on finite fossil fuels, electric cars harness energy from diverse and renewable sources such as solar and wind. This shift not only helps in reducing the strain on depleting natural resources but also fosters a more sustainable and resilient energy ecosystem.

Learn more: Fossil Fuels Vs Renewable Energy: Is One Better Than The Other?

Noise Reduction for a Quieter Environment

In addition to enhancing air quality, EVs contribute to a quieter and more serene urban environment. The absence of noisy combustion engines enhances the tranquillity of our streets, making cities more livable and promoting a healthier coexistence with our surroundings.

Access to Public EV Charging Infrastructure

One of the primary concerns for potential EV adopters is the fear of running out of charge, commonly known as range anxiety. Public charging stations act as reassuring pit stops, alleviating this concern and providing users with the confidence that a charging point is within reach whenever needed.

Singapore has strategically placed charging stations in shopping centres and other frequented spaces such as petrol stations. EV charging points have been deployed in approximately 300 HDB carparks and this figure is poised to double by the end of the year.

Furthermore, public charging stations are designed to accommodate various EV models and charging standards, making them available to a wide range of EVs. This inclusivity ensures that all EV owners, regardless of their vehicle make or model, can access the charging infrastructure seamlessly.

Empowering the Sustainable Drive: A Collective Effort

As Singapore navigates this transformative journey, the importance of collaboration cannot be overstated. Stakeholders, including government agencies, manufacturers, network operators, and sustainable energy solutions providers like Union, play a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for a thriving EV ecosystem.

The road ahead may be challenging, but with concerted efforts and shared interests, we can accelerate the adoption of green electricity and EVs, driving towards a more sustainable tomorrow.

Learn more: Why Sustainable Living Is The Future

Join us on this electrifying journey.

Electric Vehicles for Environmental Sustainability

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Environmental impact of electric vehicles

When an electric vehicle runs on electricity, it emits no tailpipe (also known as direct) emissions. When evaluated on that factor alone, EVs are much more eco-friendly than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles today.

However, when evaluating the eco-friendliness of an electric vehicle, you also need to consider the "well-to-wheel" emissions. This overarching term includes greenhouse gas and air pollutants emitted to produce and distribute the energy used to power the car. Electricity production results in a varying amount of emissions depending on the resource. While "being green" in driving your electric vehicle is a start, if your primary goal in purchasing an electric car is to reduce your greenhouse gas and pollutants emissions, you should also prioritize using zero-emissions electricity wherever possible.

All-electric vehicles emit around4,450 poundsof CO2 equivalent yearly when considering well-to-wheel emissions. By comparison, conventional gasoline cars will emit over twice as much annually. The amount of well-to-wheel emissions your EV is responsible for largely depends on your geographic area and the energy sources most commonly used for electricity. For example, if you live in California, your electricity likely comes from natural gas. This doesn't hold if your electric vehicle is used and charged in New Hampshire, as the statesources most of its electricityfrom nuclear power plants.

Natural gas provides the majority of electricity in the United States, followed closely by coal. It is often considered the "cleanest" fossil fuel because it emits 50 to 60 percent less carbon dioxide than coal. Coal is responsible for around 65 percent of carbon dioxide emissions by the electric power sector in the U.S. Even if your electricity is primarily from a coal plant, driving an EV will likely still have lower or similar well-to-wheel emissions than a conventional car. In most places in the United States today, the mix of resources used to generate your electricity mean that driving an electric vehicle will produce lower well-to-wheelemissions than a traditional car.

Are electric vehicles definitely better for the climate than gas-powered cars?

Yes: although electric cars' batteries make them more carbon-intensive to manufacture than gas cars, they more than make up for it by driving much cleaner under nearly any conditions.

October 13, 2022

Although many fully electric vehicles (EVs) carry zero emissions badges, this claim is not quite true. Battery-electric cars may not emit greenhouse gases from their tailpipes, but some emissions are created in the process of building and charging the vehicles. Nevertheless, says Sergey Paltsev, Deputy Director of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, electric vehicles are clearly a lower-emissions option than cars with internal combustion engines. Over the course of their driving lifetimes, EVs will create fewer carbon emissions than gasoline-burning cars under nearly any conditions.

We shouldn't claim victory that with this switch to electric cars, problem solved, we are going to have zero emissions, he says. No, that's not the case. But electric cars are actually much, much better in terms of the impact on the climate in comparison to internal combustion vehicles. And in time, that comparative advantage of electric cars is going to grow.

One source of EV emissions is the creation of their large lithium-ion batteries. The use of minerals including lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are crucial for modern EV batteries, requires using fossil fuels to mine those materials and heat them to high temperatures. As a result, building the 80 kWh lithium-ion battery found in a Tesla Model 3 creates between 2.5 and 16 metric tons of CO₂ (exactly how much depends greatly on what energy source is used to do the heating).¹ This intensive battery manufacturing means that building a new EV can produce around 80% more emissions than building a comparable gas-powered car.²

But just like with gasoline cars, most emissions from todays EVs come after they roll off the production floor.³ The major source of EV emissions is the energy used to charge their batteries. These emissions, says Paltsev, vary enormously based on where the car is driven and what kind of energy is used there. The best case scenario looks like whats happening today in Norway, Europes largest EV market: the nation draws most of its energy from hydropower, giving all those EVs a minuscule carbon footprint. In countries that get most of their energy from burning dirty coal, the emissions numbers for EVs dont look nearly as goodbut theyre still on par with or better than burning gasoline.

To illustrate how EVs create fewer emissions than their counterparts, Paltsev points to MITs Insights Into Future Mobility study from 2019.⁴ This study looked at comparable vehicles like the Toyota Camry and Honda Clarity across their gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell configurations. The researchers found that, on average, gasoline cars emit more than 350 grams of CO₂ per mile driven over their lifetimes. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, meanwhile, scored at around 260 grams per mile of carbon dioxide, while the fully battery-electric vehicle created just 200 grams. Stats from the U.S. Department of Energy tell a similar story: Using the nationwide average of different energy sources, DOE found that EVs create 3,932 lbs. of CO₂ equivalent per year, compared to 5,772 lbs. for plug-in hybrids, 6,258 lbs. for typical hybrids, and 11,435 lbs. for gasoline vehicles.⁵

MITs report shows how much these stats can swing based on a few key factors. For example, when the researchers used the average carbon intensity of Americas power grid, they found that a fully electric vehicle emits about 25 percent less carbon than a comparable hybrid car. But if they ran the numbers assuming the EV would charge up in hydropower-heavy Washington State, they found it would emit 61 percent less carbon than the hybrid. When they did the math for coal-heavy West Virginia, the EV actually created more carbon emissions than the hybrid, but still less than the gasoline car.

In fact, Paltsev says, its difficult to find a comparison in which EVs fare worse than internal combustion. If electric vehicles had a shorter lifespan than gas cars, that would hurt their numbers because they would have fewer low-emissions miles on the road to make up for the carbon-intensive manufacture of their batteries. Yet when the MIT study calculated a comparison in which EVs lasted only 90,000 miles on the road rather than 180,000 miles, they remained 15 percent better than a hybrid and far better than a gas car.

And while internal combustion engines are getting more efficient, EVs are poised to become greener by leaps and bounds as more countries add more clean energy to their mix. MITs report sees gasoline cars dropping from more than 350 grams of CO₂ per mile to around 225 grams by the year 2050. In that same span, however, battery EVs could drop to around 125 grams, and perhaps even down to 50 grams if the price of renewable energy were to drop significantly.

Once we decarbonize the electric gridonce we get more and more clean sources to the gridthe comparison is getting better and better, Paltsev says.

Thank you to several readers for sending in related questions, including Ross Burlington of Riverside, California, Lloyd Olson of Webberville, Texas, and Thomas Marshall of Lake Charles, Louisiana. You can submit your own question to Ask MIT Climate here.