Primary Energy Use and Environmental Effects of Electric Vehicles
The global market of electric vehicles has become one of the prime growth industries of the 21st century fueled by marketing efforts, which frequently assert that electric vehicles are “very efficient” and “produce no pollution.” This article uses thermodynamic analysis to determine the primary ener...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | World Electric Vehicle Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/12/3/138 |
| _version_ | 1797516896438845440 |
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| author | Efstathios E. Michaelides |
| author_facet | Efstathios E. Michaelides |
| author_sort | Efstathios E. Michaelides |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The global market of electric vehicles has become one of the prime growth industries of the 21st century fueled by marketing efforts, which frequently assert that electric vehicles are “very efficient” and “produce no pollution.” This article uses thermodynamic analysis to determine the primary energy needs for the propulsion of electric vehicles and applies the energy/exergy trade-offs between hydrocarbons and electricity propulsion of road vehicles. The well-to-wheels efficiency of electric vehicles is comparable to that of vehicles with internal combustion engines. Heat transfer to or from the cabin of the vehicle is calculated to determine the additional energy for heating and air-conditioning needs, which must be supplied by the battery, and the reduction of the range of the vehicle. The article also determines the advantages of using fleets of electric vehicles to offset the problems of the “duck curve” that are caused by the higher utilization of wind and solar energy sources. The effects of the substitution of internal combustion road vehicles with electric vehicles on carbon dioxide emission avoidance are also examined for several national electricity grids. It is determined that grids, which use a high fraction of coal as their primary energy source, will actually increase the carbon dioxide emissions; while grids that use a high fraction of renewables and nuclear energy will significantly decrease their carbon dioxide emissions. Globally, the carbon dioxide emissions will decrease by approximately 16% with the introduction of electric vehicles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:08:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd33a763034f4c8da882d2d53b51d18e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2032-6653 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:08:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World Electric Vehicle Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd33a763034f4c8da882d2d53b51d18e2023-11-22T15:42:34ZengMDPI AGWorld Electric Vehicle Journal2032-66532021-08-0112313810.3390/wevj12030138Primary Energy Use and Environmental Effects of Electric VehiclesEfstathios E. Michaelides0Department of Engineering, TCU, Fort Worth, TX 76132, USAThe global market of electric vehicles has become one of the prime growth industries of the 21st century fueled by marketing efforts, which frequently assert that electric vehicles are “very efficient” and “produce no pollution.” This article uses thermodynamic analysis to determine the primary energy needs for the propulsion of electric vehicles and applies the energy/exergy trade-offs between hydrocarbons and electricity propulsion of road vehicles. The well-to-wheels efficiency of electric vehicles is comparable to that of vehicles with internal combustion engines. Heat transfer to or from the cabin of the vehicle is calculated to determine the additional energy for heating and air-conditioning needs, which must be supplied by the battery, and the reduction of the range of the vehicle. The article also determines the advantages of using fleets of electric vehicles to offset the problems of the “duck curve” that are caused by the higher utilization of wind and solar energy sources. The effects of the substitution of internal combustion road vehicles with electric vehicles on carbon dioxide emission avoidance are also examined for several national electricity grids. It is determined that grids, which use a high fraction of coal as their primary energy source, will actually increase the carbon dioxide emissions; while grids that use a high fraction of renewables and nuclear energy will significantly decrease their carbon dioxide emissions. Globally, the carbon dioxide emissions will decrease by approximately 16% with the introduction of electric vehicles.https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/12/3/138electric vehicleselectric carsCO<sub>2</sub> emissionsrenewable energygrid stabilitytransportation efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Efstathios E. Michaelides Primary Energy Use and Environmental Effects of Electric Vehicles World Electric Vehicle Journal electric vehicles electric cars CO<sub>2</sub> emissions renewable energy grid stability transportation efficiency |
| title | Primary Energy Use and Environmental Effects of Electric Vehicles |
| title_full | Primary Energy Use and Environmental Effects of Electric Vehicles |
| title_fullStr | Primary Energy Use and Environmental Effects of Electric Vehicles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Primary Energy Use and Environmental Effects of Electric Vehicles |
| title_short | Primary Energy Use and Environmental Effects of Electric Vehicles |
| title_sort | primary energy use and environmental effects of electric vehicles |
| topic | electric vehicles electric cars CO<sub>2</sub> emissions renewable energy grid stability transportation efficiency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/12/3/138 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT efstathiosemichaelides primaryenergyuseandenvironmentaleffectsofelectricvehicles |