"A joint American-Chinese research report (Shuguang, Ji et. al: Electric Vehicles in China: Emissions and Health Impacts) proves that vehicles powered by electricity from coal-fired power stations result in more soot emissions per passenger kilometre than cars powered by petrol and diesel. Compared with petrol and diesel powered vehicles, electric vehicles therefore turn out to be the worst polluters in large countries like China, India and the US. Other critics highlight vehicle manufacture, where batteries also have a climate-related cost. Anders Hammer Strømman and his colleagues at NTNU have, for example, discovered that the building of an electric car causes about twice as much greenhouse gases to be emitted as during the construction of a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle."
"Motorists often need a year's experience of driving [electric] cars to feel safe with them in all seasons of the year."
Electric Transport With Wind in Its Sails
Sep. 13, 2013 — Researchers are aiming to remove the electric car market's biggest problem -- the fear of not reaching the next charging station.
Both in Norway and in Europe there is considerable interest in facilitating electric mobility and removing polluting goods and passenger transport from towns. There are critics out there, and European vehicle sales give no cause for rejoicing, since only 0.2 per cent of private cars sold are electrically powered. However, Norway saw a doubling of sales last year, with a total of 4,009 cars, and the number of electric cars on Norwegian roads is now around 11,000.
Simpler charging is also on its way, and the cost-effectiveness of electric goods vehicles and electric buses is being tested on Norwegian roads.
Electric cars call for experienced drivers
"One of the main challenges in getting more people to choose electric cars is the fear that their batteries will run flat and they won't find anywhere to charge them," says Liv Øvstedal at SINTEF. "Although a new generation of electric cars is now on its way, offering rapid charging and a greater range, we realise that the problem of charging and charging stations concerns people who are thinking of buying a new car. "The cold, damp Norwegian climate represents an added burden for electric car owners. Motorists often need a year's experience of driving the cars to feel safe with them in all seasons of the year."
Communication platform in the car
Transport researchers at SINTEF want to make it possible to calculate the range of a car more precisely than at present, and to provide the driver with full information at all times.
"We envisage a system where the car is equipped with a simple GPS unit on which the driver plots the route. The car should be able to order its own charging by looking up charging stations and calculating when it will reach them. If changes occur during a journey, the program should adjust. We are now working on getting all the pieces in place to make this work," says Øvstedal.
A small technical pilot scheme has been planned in Trondheim, as well as a larger demonstration project next year involving 200 electric cars on the road between Oslo and Kongsberg. "Many people in Europe have the same ideas as we do, but we have yet to see such a system in practice. We believe we can make a contribution at a European level by organising demonstrations and working towards a business model," says Liv Øvstedal.
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Critical voices
Even amid the choir of electric car enthusiasts there are also researchers asking difficult questions. Steffen Møller-Holst at SINTEF Energy Research believes that battery-powered vehicles will play a very important role in the emission-free transport of the future, but that this will happen in combination with hybrids, rechargeable hybrids and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
"The different vehicle technologies will dominate in different transport segments, and all have advantages and disadvantages. We must therefore assess both the vehicle and its environmental soundness in a cradle-to-grave perspective," he says.
A joint American-Chinese research report (Shuguang, Ji et. al: Electric Vehicles in China: Emissions and Health Impacts) proves that vehicles powered by electricity from coal-fired power stations result in more soot emissions per passenger kilometre than cars powered by petrol and diesel. Compared with petrol and diesel powered vehicles, electric vehicles therefore turn out to be the worst polluters in large countries like China, India and the US. Other critics highlight vehicle manufacture, where batteries also have a climate-related cost. Anders Hammer Strømman and his colleagues at NTNU have, for example, discovered that the building of an electric car causes about twice as much greenhouse gases to be emitted as during the construction of a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle.
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"What do you know so far?"
"We know that the technology is expensive, and that many operators are waiting until more experience is available. But this must be broken. As long as nobody dares to get involved, no new and more efficient technologies can be developed, either," says Liv Øvstedal. "Because although the initial investments are large, the operating costs are lower than with diesel-powered vehicles, and low operating costs mean that the venture will pay in the long run!"
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