EV & FCEV Explained (1)
Ir. Martijn C. de Kuijer
Electrical engineer, Sustainability Nerd, Columnist, Founder of Greenchoicess, Senior Construction Manager @ Pilot Construction Sdn Bhd
Greenchoicess regularly receives questions about electric cars. How green is an electric car? And how can you carefully charge? Do I choose a hydrogen car (FCEV) or an electric car (EV)? And there are many more questions about the electric and hydrogen cars. There are lots of aspects that relate to technology, driving the car, charging and the costs that you can expect. That is why I explain more about the electric and hydrogen cars, as a starting point for your search.
Let's start at the beginning. What is your general knowledge?
General knowledge (1)
We elaborate on climate change, the climate agreement and the impact for, among other things, environmental zones. The state of affairs and what this means for cars in general. We discuss the different types of electric vehicles and why electric driving is important for the future. In addition, we summarize important topics such as safety, recycling and the future.
Climate change
Climate change is a threat to humans, but also for animals and plants. Since the industrial revolution and especially after the Second World War, we have started to burn fossil sources, such as oil and gas. This has led to a huge increase in CO2 and methane in the atmosphere. These are greenhouse gases that retain heat through which the earth warms up.
Flooding hazard
Approximately 70% of the Earth's surface is below sea level, reflecting how much our planet is indeed a water planet. Floods can also be caused by rising water level in the rivers. Due to an increase in peak outlet due to more precipitation upstream, the chance of flooding by rivers increases. With raised dikes, countries can be defended against a higher sea level and storms. But if climate change continues like this and the water continues to rise, it will ultimately no longer be sufficient.
Climate agreement
In the Paris climate agreement, a significant CO2 reduction has been agreed by 195 countries (or a reduction of combustion fossil sources, such as coal, oil and gas). In 2030, 49% less CO2 must be emitted compared to 1990, it was agreed in the 2019 climate agreement. Of course, ambitions have also been set per country that increase this. As an example: the EU policy was later increased to 55%. The maximum emissions of cars (CO2 per km) are becoming stricter. If car manufacturers do not get that, they will receive large fines (2021: 95 CO2 grams per km, 59.3 grams of CO2 per km in 2030).
More and more cities are getting environmental zones where polluting cars are banned. From 2035, only 'emission-free' new cars may be sold in the EU, so or battery electric or hydrogen-electric (with an exception for e-fuel). Many countries, however, strive to 2030, because that has been agreed the climate agreement. But future new governments can still postpone that.
The CAFE standard: Corporate Average Fuel Economy
The authorities have made it clear that since 2020 the fleet average that all new cars must comply with is 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre. That is 24.7 g/km lower than the recorded average of the 11 manufacturers who sold more than 300,000 units in 2018.
Since 2021, manufacturers selling cars in Europe would have to pay an excess emissions contribution of €33.6 billion. This is the conclusion of a JATO study based on last year's averages and the fines set by the European Commission from 2019. This must change quickly in the coming years, otherwise car manufacturers that lag behind could run into problems.
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Zero emission zone
From 2025, medium-sized zero-emission zones for city logistics will be introduced in 30 to 40 of the largest municipalities. The parties participating in the implementation agenda agree on principles for the preparation and implementation of these zero-emission zones, in line with the agreements in the Climate Agreement. Below is a selection of these principles.
The zero-emission zone only applies to trucks and vans. Whether and when other vehicle categories can be added to the zero-emission zone - such as taxis and coaches - the relevant ministry will examine together with the participants on the basis of various future evaluation moments. In the long term, the addition of passenger cars is also being considered.
Zero Emission City Logistics
Through dedicated sustainable Zero Emission City Logistics developed in collaboration with private stakeholders, city authorities are encouraged to fully integrate freight transport into their sustainable urban mobility plans. In order to remove the risk factor from investments and speed up the transition to sustainable urban logistics, logistics stakeholders need clear urban freight planning and frameworks at the local, national and international levels.
It concerned, for example, the edges of the city (such as logistics decoupling points and "hubs"), the use of light electric vehicles (LEV), water transport, and the development of new forms of cooperation within the logistics chain, to mention a few.
Many pilots were set up that were mainly used to "experiment" with small, often local, projects. To explore and learn a lot, and to share the knowledge and experience gained. Pilots were allowed to fail. Not to stop afterwards, but especially to see where things were not going well and how it could be better. These projects were called "Living Labs".
All cars emission -free
All 27 EU member states have agreed that from 2035, new cars will no longer be sold throughout the European Union that emit harmful substances. With a possible exception of E Fuels (especially for sports cars), there are still two types of cars for sale: battery-electric and hydrogen-electric. That was not the only decision: for 2030 cars must be 55% more economical (and 50% company cars). That is very difficult to achieve, so that this also stimulates emission -free cars.
The Netherlands strives for a prohibition of sale from 2030. In Norway that is even 2025. About 25 to 30% of all CO2 emissions are caused by transport and about 70% of that are road traffic such as cars. Despite recent measures, such as more economical and cleaner combustion engines, the emissions are still increasing, partly because cars have become bigger and heavier.
What does this mean for cars?
Unfortunately, cars are polluting. That starts with production, for which a lot of steel or aluminium is used (and this therefore applies to all types of cars, including electric). Then they drive around on average for almost 20 years - during that time, fuel cars emit different substances while driving, which is caused by the combustion of gasoline, diesel or LPG in the engine.
It is not only about CO2 (carbon dioxide), but also about nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.1). Nitrogen and particulate matter are harmful to the health of people and animals and CO2 leads to climate change. For every litre of gasoline, 2269 grams of CO2 is released (for a litre of diesel that is 2606 grams and at LPG 1610 grams). Moreover, the production of gasoline, diesel and LPG also costs a lot of electricity.
Cars must therefore become less polluting. Although combustion engines have become relatively cleaner over the years, they will always continue to emit harmful gases. This is not the case with hydrogen and battery-electric cars. That is why a transition is going on worldwide to emission -free cars and shared cars, so that fewer cars are needed.
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