The switch to electric vehicles could save EU member states billions of euros, but only if governments make space for ‘smart charging’ and Europe embraces the potential of recycling. These are the conclusions of a report commissioned by T&E and others, and amount to the latest in a series of calls for Europe to make the most of the e-vehicle revolution or risk losing out to other parts of the world.
Electrifying cars, vans, buses and trucks using rechargeable lithium-ion batteries offers an effective, scalable and, if combined with renewable power, zero emission solution for transport; Europe’s biggest climate problem. T&E has partnered with Enel, Iberdrola and Renault-Nissan to commission a report from Element Energy to understand the opportunities offered by electric vehicle integration, and how to turn these “batteries on wheels” into an asset, rather than a problem.
Electric vehicles can save France, Italy, Spain, and the UK between €500 million and €1.3 billion each a year as they switch to renewable energy, a new study has found.[1] Smart charging – or charging electric cars at the best time of day for the grid – will help avoid demand peaks and provide extra storage when there is renewable electricity oversupply. This will reduce the need to build additional grid storage and power plants, according to researchers Element Energy, which analysed electric vehicle uptake up to 2040.
In two weeks Europeans go to the polls to elect a new European Parliament and, indirectly, a new European Commission president. It’s a vote that matters hugely for the environment. But before we look ahead, it’s useful to assess the Juncker Commission. So what did Jean-Claude Juncker and his team do well, and what could the next Commission do better?
A study claiming that electric vehicle produce more carbon emissions than a diesel car has been promptly debunked by academics and experts in Germany, where it was published last month. The Institute for Economic Research (Ifo) was roundly criticised over its findings which were founded on a relatively high weighting of coal generation in Germany’s power mix.
The UK Climate Change Committee, official advisers to the UK government, have recommended that Britain reaches net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In a comprehensive report it acknowledged emissions reduction policies would need to be significantly strengthened. These include considering moving forward the current target of 100% new electric vehicle sales by 2040 forward by up to a decade.
Transport & Environment UK (T&E UK) warmly welcomes the recommendation of the Climate Change Committee to increase the UK’s ambition to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. This is essential for the UK to show international leadership in the battle to prevent dangerous climate change and it can help secure enormous economic opportunities.
The European Parliament today voted to cut carbon dioxide emissions from new trucks by 30% by 2030, benefiting truckers with almost €60,000 in fuel savings per vehicle over a five-year period [1]. MEPs also agreed to reward truckmakers whose electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles make up at least 2% of new truck sales with a less stringent CO2 target. European campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) says this zero-emission sales incentive will help kick-start the shift away from fossil fuel technology.
Carmakers can exploit loopholes in the EU’s new CO2 emissions targets to push sales of fake plug-in hybrid cars over EVs with no tailpipe emissions, T&E has warned. The law credits manufacturers for selling EVs but leaves room for gaming. This could allow carmakers to supply half of all the ´zero and low-emission’ cars needed to comply with stricter CO2 limits with fake ‘electric’ cars.
The Belgian city of Ghent has reported a 12% reduction in rush-hour traffic, and a 25% increase in cyclists in the first year of its new traffic plan. The findings were reported on the second anniversary of the Ghent Circulation Plan coming into force, and coincided with T&E’s member organisations spending a day in the city before their annual general meeting in Brussels.
