"Because the UK's electricity grid hasn't switched to renewable energy sources, EVs 'run almost entirely on fossil fuel burnt at power stations', according to the team. As a result, the experts claim the most eco-friendly option is actually a hybrid or efficient diesel car. In their new paper, accepted for publication in the journal Environmental Research, the scientists compared the UK's 2030 Net Zero plan with real-world data from 2023."
"They found that the variability of wind and solar power has been 'grossly underestimated' in the government's plans. On overcast or windless days, there are significant gaps in energy supply that have to be met by gas-fired power stations. Since EVs increase demand for electricity during these periods, charging a new EV only results in more fossil fuels being burned to provide the extra electricity."
Comparison of the UK's 2030 Net Zero plan with 2023 real-world data shows that variability of wind and solar power has been grossly underestimated. On overcast or windless days, gas-fired power stations fill significant gaps in supply. Because the electricity grid still relies heavily on fossil fuels, additional EV charging increases demand that is met by burning more gas at power stations. Under current grid conditions, EVs do not produce proven carbon savings and hybrids or efficient diesel cars can be more eco-friendly. Planned decarbonisation by 2030 requires large increases in wind and solar capacity and reduced fossil fuel use.
Read at Mail Online
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