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Tales of the unexpected.
I’m planning to buy a car.
I have been planning for an Electrical Vehicle.
So I would like to see how much CO2 I will save compared with a Diesel car.
I’m planning to buy a car.
I have been planning for an Electrical Vehicle.
So I would like to see how much CO2 I will save compared with a Diesel car.
The cars weights the same.
Have the same tires.
They would have the same driver - me.
The driving pattern would be the same.
Have the same tires.
They would have the same driver - me.
The driving pattern would be the same.
I will calculated the CO2 emissions for 1 TJ delivered to the wheels of both cars.
First I will quantify the essential parameters with references.
Then I will summarize it all in a spread sheet picture.
Finally I will celebrate the result.
First I will quantify the essential parameters with references.
Then I will summarize it all in a spread sheet picture.
Finally I will celebrate the result.
First the diesel car.
“Passenger car diesel engines have energy efficiency of up to 41% but more typically 30%.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine
The typically 30 % seems reasonable.
“Passenger car diesel engines have energy efficiency of up to 41% but more typically 30%.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine
The typically 30 % seems reasonable.
The CO2 emission can be calculated from the CO2 emission factor for diesel.
It is quantified in the EU regulation on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions Annex VI:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32012R0601&from=EN
The emission factor for diesel is 74,1 tonCO2/TJ
It is quantified in the EU regulation on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions Annex VI:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32012R0601&from=EN
The emission factor for diesel is 74,1 tonCO2/TJ
Next the electrical vehicle.
“EVs convert about 59%–62% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels.”
https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/evtech.shtml
Wow.
I choose 60 % without further consideration
“EVs convert about 59%–62% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels.”
https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/evtech.shtml
Wow.
I choose 60 % without further consideration
Then I have to count in some transmission loss in the electrical grid.
“Generally speaking, T&D losses between 6% and 8% are considered normal.”
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2007/07/energy-efficiency-in-the-power-grid-49238.html
7% seems to be a reasonable value for Transmission and Distribution loss.
“Generally speaking, T&D losses between 6% and 8% are considered normal.”
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2007/07/energy-efficiency-in-the-power-grid-49238.html
7% seems to be a reasonable value for Transmission and Distribution loss.
Then a tricky part.
Where is the electricity coming from?
I live in Germany.
There is both solar, wind, nuclear, and coal power in the grid.
Where is the electricity coming from?
I live in Germany.
There is both solar, wind, nuclear, and coal power in the grid.
The following picture gives an idea about where the electricity will come from:
https://www.worldcoal.org/file_validate.php?file=cornerstone_volume2_issue4(17_12_2014).pdf
https://www.worldcoal.org/file_validate.php?file=cornerstone_volume2_issue4(17_12_2014).pdf
As it seems, there is nothing more to get from wind and solar
Wind and solar are already delivering a maximum of what they can provide.
Nothing more to get
“Grid operators are obliged to purchase the entire quantity of renewable electricity with priority.”
https://www.worldcoal.org/file_validate.php?file=cornerstone_volume2_issue4(17_12_2014).pdf
Wind and solar are already delivering a maximum of what they can provide.
Nothing more to get
“Grid operators are obliged to purchase the entire quantity of renewable electricity with priority.”
https://www.worldcoal.org/file_validate.php?file=cornerstone_volume2_issue4(17_12_2014).pdf
Further, the added electricity demand from my Electrical Vehicle cannot be provided from nuclear power because nuclear power stations seems to be catering for the base load, running with a fixed maximum output. There is nothing more to get from nuclear:
https://www.worldcoal.org/file_validate.php?file=cornerstone_volume2_issue4(17_12_2014).pdf
https://www.worldcoal.org/file_validate.php?file=cornerstone_volume2_issue4(17_12_2014).pdf
As it seems, coal is the flexible electricity source. Coal power is the source that has to deliver the electricity to my electrical car.
(And maybe gas at high peaks, I will disregard that for a moment)
(And maybe gas at high peaks, I will disregard that for a moment)
More than that, it is stated that
“the additional energy used to charge EVs is mainly provided by conventional power plants, and particularly by emission-intensive lignite plants”
http://wolfpeterschill.de/wp-content/uploads/Schill_Gerbaulet_APEN_2015.pdf
“the additional energy used to charge EVs is mainly provided by conventional power plants, and particularly by emission-intensive lignite plants”
http://wolfpeterschill.de/wp-content/uploads/Schill_Gerbaulet_APEN_2015.pdf
So it actually turns out that:
Solar and wind got priority and is always delivering what it produces.
Nuclear is running at fixed maximum output.
Coal is flexible, and absorb the changes in demand.
https://www.worldcoal.org/flexibility-german-coal-fired-power-plants-amid-increased-renewables
Solar and wind got priority and is always delivering what it produces.
Nuclear is running at fixed maximum output.
Coal is flexible, and absorb the changes in demand.
https://www.worldcoal.org/flexibility-german-coal-fired-power-plants-amid-increased-renewables
Ok, It seems reasonable.
If I replace my diesel car with an Electrical Vehicle, I have to count in that the electricity demand added by the new electrical car is delivered by a coal plant.
I don´t like it.
It will be hard to convince my wife and children about that.
If I replace my diesel car with an Electrical Vehicle, I have to count in that the electricity demand added by the new electrical car is delivered by a coal plant.
I don´t like it.
It will be hard to convince my wife and children about that.
It even seems that I have to count in that the electricity for my Electrical Vehicle would come from Lignite.
http://wolfpeterschill.de/wp-content/uploads/Schill_Gerbaulet_APEN_2015.pdf
“the additional energy used to charge EVs is mainly provided by conventional power plants, and particularly by emission-intensive lignite plants“
http://wolfpeterschill.de/wp-content/uploads/Schill_Gerbaulet_APEN_2015.pdf
“the additional energy used to charge EVs is mainly provided by conventional power plants, and particularly by emission-intensive lignite plants“
So the CO2 emission will have to be calculated from the CO2 emission factor for coal.
It is quantified in the EU regulation on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. Annex VI
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32012R0601&from=EN
Emission factor for Lignite is 101,0 tonCO2/TJ
It is quantified in the EU regulation on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. Annex VI
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32012R0601&from=EN
Emission factor for Lignite is 101,0 tonCO2/TJ
That is great. Now I got all the figures I need to compare the CO2 emissions of a new Electrical Vehicle with my diesel car.
It is simple high school math:
(I sincerely hope I don´t make an error)
It is simple high school math:
(I sincerely hope I don´t make an error)
Wow.
What a surprise
The CO2 emissions caused by my diesel car is 247 tonCO2/TJ
The CO2 emissions caused by a new Electrical Vehicle would be 489 tonCO2/TJ
(if there is lignite thermal power plants delivering electricity to the grid.)
What a surprise
The CO2 emissions caused by my diesel car is 247 tonCO2/TJ
The CO2 emissions caused by a new Electrical Vehicle would be 489 tonCO2/TJ
(if there is lignite thermal power plants delivering electricity to the grid.)
Can that really be true?
It seems so.
Her is a peer reviewed paper that essentially comes to the same conclusion:
http://wolfpeterschill.de/wp-content/uploads/Schill_Gerbaulet_APEN_2015.pdf
It seems so.
Her is a peer reviewed paper that essentially comes to the same conclusion:
http://wolfpeterschill.de/wp-content/uploads/Schill_Gerbaulet_APEN_2015.pdf
So, it seems that if I choose an Electrical Vehicle rather than a diesel car:
The CO2 emissions would double -
The CO2 emissions would increase by 100 %
I need a drink.
The CO2 emissions would double -
The CO2 emissions would increase by 100 %
I need a drink.
It has been objected that the analysis above does not include Well to Tank CO2 emissions for diesel.
Well to tank CO2 emissions for diesel is approximately 15 tonCO2/TJ.
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC85326/wtt_report_v4a_april2014_pubsy.pdf
Well to tank CO2 emissions for diesel is approximately 15 tonCO2/TJ.
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC85326/wtt_report_v4a_april2014_pubsy.pdf
Including Well to Tank CO2 emissions for diesel gives the following CO2 emissions for 1 TJ delivered to the wheels:
Diesel car: 297 tonCO2/TJ
Electrical Vehicle:489 ton CO2/TJ
The CO2 emissions for the Electrical Vehicle is now 65 % higher than the emissions from a diesel car.
Diesel car: 297 tonCO2/TJ
Electrical Vehicle:489 ton CO2/TJ
The CO2 emissions for the Electrical Vehicle is now 65 % higher than the emissions from a diesel car.
Now, it can be objected that the estimate for the Electrical Vehicle does not include:
- Coal mine to coal power plant
- Eventual higher energy requirement for production of an Electrical Vehicle compared to a diesel car
I will let that rest for now.
- Coal mine to coal power plant
- Eventual higher energy requirement for production of an Electrical Vehicle compared to a diesel car
I will let that rest for now.
Anyhow, the conclusion still stands:
The transition to Electrical Vehicles will not reduce total CO2 emissions before Coal power is largely removed from the mix of electricity sources to the grid.
The transition to Electrical Vehicles will not reduce total CO2 emissions before Coal power is largely removed from the mix of electricity sources to the grid.
