About two years ago, a Swedish study on the CO2 record of electric cars caused a stir among fans and critics of electromobility. An update of the data is now apparently the fans right.
The climate balance of Electric car batteries has improved a lot. According to recent calculations by the Swedish environmental institute IVL, battery production currently accounts for between 61 and 106 kilograms CO2 equivalent per kilowatt hour, depending on which energy mix is used. Two years ago, in a widely acclaimed and controversial study, the IVL had reckoned with 150 to 200 kilograms.
At that time, the scientists concluded that electric cars had virtually no ecological advantage over conventional vehicles because of the very elaborate production of the batteries. The new calculations now show a low climate protection advantage for e-cars, which would continue to grow as a result of the expansion of renewable energies.
The better values in the study are, among other things, the result of more efficient production and a more accurate database. In addition, the underlying energy mix has been updated - in the old study, fossil energy sources had been expected. Also for other LCA calculations, the update should result in consequences. Recently, for example, the ADAC had published a lifecycle study, which still used the old Swedish data and issued the e-car a rather moderate climate certificate.