With Nissan releasing the first UK-built, battery-operated electric car (known as the Leaf), questions have arisen on just how environmentally comfortable the new design is.
It goes without saying that the power to drive these vehicles has to come from somewhere. Commonly, the UK’s power sources emerge from power stations, where coal is infamously known for causing heavy amounts of pollution. Whilst electric vehicles will be cutting down these emissions, its power-sources are still likely to cause an environmental imbalance. Furthermore, the manufacture of the vehicles’ batteries has also been put into question.
It seems strange, considering that the electric car is known for having no emissions, but the fact remains that its construction and design are the subjects of discussion, as well as concern.
A study in Norway University of Science and Technology – embedded within the most EV-friendly country in the world – looked at the impact of global warming that its cars had. Surprisingly, it was found that in some circumstances, electric vehicles had a greater impact on global warming than the common car. Guillaume Majeau-Bettez, one of the researchers, found the news disappointing.
According to the BBC, he stated that, “The electric car has great potential for improvement, but ultimately what will make it a success or failure from an environmental standpoint is how much we can clean up our electricity grid – both for the electricity you use when you drive your car, and for the electricity used for producing the car.”
The research however, was not entirely hopeless. Bearing in mind that transport is needed to shift petrol and diesel (of which also means costing fuel) and further costs to refine it, this adds to the environmental risks that is done through the common car.
Norway’s primary source of power comes from hydroelectricity, meaning that the EVs outperform normal cars based on the environment surrounding them. It means that naturally, the country doesn’t rely on coal for a main power source. The only trouble that Guillaume and his team seem to have is the overall issue with the electric vehicle’s manufacture.
It is somewhat questionable that Norway, a country that uses nature as its conduit, is truly on environmental pars with the UK, considering that the UK primarily uses coal as a form of power-source.
The public scrutiny of the Norwegian study has prompted criticism, considering that the researchers at the university have links with Statoil, suggesting that the research is in fact a smear campaign, rather than solid evidence. The pseudo-science is thought to be a way of trying to mute the EV market before it even has a chance to emerge.
Nissan’s Leaf may be the start of an interesting strand – and despite rival companies trying to divert attentions away from it, the £420 million investment shows promise – and possibly, a new means to the global environmental battle.
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