Thursday, April 6, 2017

Only Renewable Energy Drives Electric Car Sales - Science

Acceptance of electric cars by some percentage of people is not only willing but determined due to the importance such people place on a clean environment.  The people who buy such cars aren't so much interested in what they cost or how great their range but they care enormously about them running on clean electricity and that specifically excludes electricity from coal-fired plants since that, in aggregate, is more polluting than cars.  (Science Daily:  Renewable energy needed to drive uptake of electric vehicles)


The surprise for me in reading the article was seeing the focus and the determination of electric car purchasers.  They want the electric cars but they must be 'fueled' by clean electricity as opposed to coal-fired electricity.

In a newly published study titled Consumer purchase intentions for electric vehicles: Is green more important than price and range? Dr Degirmenci found environmental performance was in fact an even stronger predictor of purchase intention over price and range confidence.

The study involved interviews with 40 consumers and a survey with 167 people who participated in test drives with plug-in battery electric vehicles in Germany.

"We found the majority of participants placed great emphasis on the need for electricity for electric vehicles to be produced from renewable energy sources in order for them to be a true alternative," he said.

- SD

Watson:  it seems people are more discerning about purchasing cars than for buying politicians


The sample size on that survey is less than earth-shattering so make of it what you will.


Dr Degirmenci said when considering greenhouse gas emissions it was important to acknowledge the difference between on-road emissions only taking into account the fuel used, and well-to-wheel emissions including all emissions related to fuel production, processing, distribution and use.

"For example, a petrol-driven vehicle produces 119g CO2-e/km, of which most are on-road emissions. In comparison, an electric vehicle produces zero on-road emissions," he said.

"However, if electricity is generated from coal to charge an electric vehicle it produces 139g CO2-e/km well-to-wheel emissions, compared with only 9g CO2-e/km well-to-wheel emissions with electricity from renewable energy sources."

- SD

Consumers interested in these types of vehicles are apparently well aware of the lie of clean electricity from coal-fired plants and are shaping their purchase decisions from that.

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