Greenhouse gas emissions associated with electric vehicle charging: The impact of electricity generation mix in a developing country

doi:10.1016/j.trd.2017.06.018

Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment

Volume 64, October 2018, Pages 15-22

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2017.06.018 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
The GHG emissions resulted from EVs usage is quantified.
•
EVs running with Malaysian electricity grid produce substantial GHG emissions.
•
Malaysia as a developing country is not ready for EVs.
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As our electricity generation is still largely dominated by fossil fuels.

Abstract

Since 2012, the government has been promoting the electric vehicles and the development of related infrastructure to encourage local automakers to explore into the alternatively powered vehicles. However, the benefits of grid-dependent EVs can only be harvested under the condition that their use is coupled with a low carbon electricity grid. Thus, it is an additional challenge for Malaysia's that are largely dependent on fossil fuels for electricity generation. The object of this paper is to perform a well-to-wheel life cycle assessment for calculating the greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the usage of ICEVs, HEVs and EVs in Malaysian scenario. These emission calculations will provide the best information for policymakers, researchers, and investors to make appropriate and effective decisions on policies, research and investments in future transport energy. The results show that running EVs with national grid will produce an average of 7% more GHG emissions than HEVs at the same distance. However, they will produce an average of 19% less GHG emissions than the ICEVs. Overall the GHG emissions produced through the usage of EVs are substantial based on the well-to-wheel analysis, as the environmental profile of EVs is linked with the national grid. Therefore, in order to harvest the benefit of EVs towards climate change and global warming mitigation, massive modernization and transformation should be taken for the development of the national grid towards greener sources.

Section snippets

Introductions

The global electric vehicle volume on the road reached 1.26 million in 2015, where there were only half of them in a year before and hundreds in 2005. The Paris Declaration on Electro-Mobility and Climate Change and Call to Action sets a global deployment target of 100 million electric cars in 2030 (International Energy Agency, 2016). With each of the largest automakers globally offering one or more models every year, electric vehicle operations, and the magnitude of their environmental effects,

Method

The well-to-wheel analysis that was primarily motivated by the emergence of EVs is an LCA of vehicle fuels used to assess the fuel production pathway and vehicle fuel efficiency (Wang, 2003). It has been the crucial keys in assessing the environmental impact of fuel options as it explores the efficiency of the feedstock extraction, production, storage, transportation and distribution processes of the fuel, as well as the fuel efficiency in the vehicle (MacLean et al., 2011, Shena et al., 2012).

Discussion

The use of EVs will results in net CO₂ savings only if they are coupled with the electricity generated to charge the battery has a carbon intensity below 700 g of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour (g CO₂/kW h) (International Energy Agency, 2016) and at least below 760 g of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour based on the impact assessment. It will be a great challenge for Malaysia, as our grid produces 820 g of CO₂ for generation of every kilowatt-hour. Malaysia needs to improve the electricity mix in its power generation.

Conclusion

The study indicates that Malaysia as a developing country is not ready for EVs as our electricity generation is still largely dominated by fossil fuels. Based on the well-to-wheel analysis, the GHG emissions produced through the usage of EVs are substantial and it will continue to be so if no change is made to the electricity generation in the near future. Therefore, in order to harvest the benefit of EVs towards climate change and global warming mitigation, massive modernization and

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Center of Transport Research, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, and University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia for their financial support to carry out this research project. The project was funded under the project LL026-16SUS.

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Greenhouse gas emissions associated with electric vehicle charging: The impact of electricity generation mix in a developing country

Highlights

Abstract

Section snippets

Introductions

Method

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Transp. Res.: Part D: Transp. Environ.

Transp. Res. Part D: Transp. Environ.

Energy Policy

Transp. Res. Part D: Transp. Environ.

Driving a green change

The Ingenieur

The use of energy in Malaysia: tracing energy flows from primary source to end use

Energies

All-New Honda Fit Hybrid Revealed

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Int. J. Life Cycle Assess.

Comparative environmental life cycle assessment of conventional and electric vehicles

J. Ind. Ecol.