Analysis of Carbon Saving by the Adoption of Electric Vehicles in a Region Where Electricity Generation is Dominated by Thermal Power Plants
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-4236.39146Keywords:
CO2 emission, electric vehicles, renewable energy penetration, battery charging.Abstract
One method of reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions in the transportation
sector is the replacement of conventional fossil fuel-based vehicles with
Electric Vehicles (EVs). However, fossil fuels are still the primary source
of electricity production in many regions and the utilization of EVs in such
regions increases the electricity demand because of battery charging. This
results in increased burning of fossil fuels by thermal power plants and
therefore can offset savings in CO2 emissions resulting from the adoption
of EVs. In this paper, we consider a scenario where all fossil fuel-based
conventional vehicles are replaced by EVs and then estimate the net CO2
emission savings resulting from the adoption of EVs in a region where
electricity is primarily supplied by thermal plants. Only emissions generated
during the operational phase of vehicle use are considered; emissions during
the production phase are not considered. The region under consideration is Madeira, Portugal where thermal plants account for 80% of the total electric-
ity produced. Our findings suggest that although EVs have huge potential to
save CO2 emissions, a substantial amount of the savings can be offset due to
the increased burning of fossil fuels by thermal plants to meet the electrical
demand of charging batteries.
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