For most people driving a car is the largest part of the transport footprint. Switching to an EV, or even better, going car free is another way to cut more than a tonne from your carbon footprint.
Although EVs do emit more carbon when manufactured, because of the battery, they are efficient when they get on the road transferring a lot more energy into the distance covered.
The amount of carbon saved depends on four things:
1. How far you drive
2. How old your fossil fuel car is (older usually means less efficient)
3. The size of the car (smaller is beautiful as larger cars usually have bigger engines or batteries)
4. How you power your EV (renewables the best)
Did you know?
Over the life of an EV powered by renewables, you can save 40 tonnes of carbon emissions. Buying an electric vehicle is a big investment and costs more than a conventional car. However, over the life of the car, cheaper running costs and maintenance mean that an EV should be cheaper. An increasing number of governments are banning the sale of new fossil fuel cars help build the case for making the switch. Going car-free will further reduce carbon footprints ,but this is usually only an option for people who live in urban areas or have access to good public transport.
Should I drive my old car into the ground?
Is it better to drive an old car for longer or to switch to an EV? The answer is probably not. A new EV takes more carbon to make but as soon as you start driving it the carbon savings start coming. The further you drive and the older your current car, the quicker those savings will outweigh the additional embedded carbon. If you think your current car will be the last you ever buy, it could be worthwhile not to replace it as that would mean one less new car built. Also, if you drive a very small, super-efficient car only short distances then the payback period could be up to ten years, so it might be worth waiting as new battery manufacturers get more efficient