An analysis of advantages of electric vehicles by a team of engineers at Cambridge provides interesting revelations. The widespread adoption of battery-operated electric vehicles offers the maximum potential and energy efficiency to reduce CO2 footprint.
However, grid improvements will be a key step needed to unlock the full potential of battery-operated electric vehicles. Firstly, this will require work to be done to increase the availability of charging station, and this will help mitigate ‘range-anxiety’ of occupants of battery-operated electric vehicles.
The findings of the study are published in the journal Applied Energy.
Battery Electric Vehicles and Fuel-cell Electric Vehicles pins hope to reduce Carbon Emissions
In terms of function, battery-operated vehicles that use an all-electric pathway, and fuel-cell electric vehicles require hydrogen. These two types of electric vehicles are the leading options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the transport sector.
To establish this, a researcher at the Center for Sustainable Road Freight and a team at the Energy Group of the Department carried out a stochastic analysis. The analysis involved examining energy consumption of low-carbon emitting vehicles such as cars and heavy-duty vehicles.
Meanwhile, the researchers paid heed to the following areas to determine which source of energy for both hydrogen-driven and electric vehicles is a better option. The areas to look into are applicable for current energy systems as well as the ones for the future.
The analysis carried out by the researchers revealed some interesting revelations. It showcases that battery-operated electric vehicle offer sustained reduction of greenhouse gases. The light-duty pathways of battery-operated electric vehicles minimize CO2 emissions by lessening input energy waste, and are 65 percent more efficient than light-duty fuel-cell electric vehicles that use grid energy.