2024-04-18 11:45:14
By 2030, half of Luxembourg’s car fleet will be electric. This is the government’s objective anyway, because the transport sector accounts for a large part of the country’s CO2 emissions. Electric cars are expected to reduce this figure. Apart from the fact that it is already certain that this 50% target will not be reached, the following question arises: are electric cars really as good for the environment and as low maintenance as we think?
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Francesco Viti, a transport expert from the University of Luxembourg, explains that electric cars are more environmentally friendly than combustion cars, especially in terms of direct exposure to pollutants such as fine particles. However, if we take into account the CO2 emissions of an electric car, the difference is no longer so clear, he explains.
The difference with an internal combustion vehicle is not that great. If there are…
Francesco Viti
Mobility researcher at the University of Luxembourg
“If you drive an electric car that uses 20 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers and you drive 20,000 kilometers a year, you will produce four tonnes of CO2. Surprisingly, the emissions from a petrol car that uses an average of eight liters per 100 kilometers are six tonnes, or ‘only’ 50% more,’ explains the transport expert.
It is even more surprising, he says, that a diesel that uses 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers also produces six tonnes. “Similarly, the production of an electric car emits twice as much CO2 as an internal combustion car. So if we consider the whole production process and consumption, the difference is not that big. If there is…”, sums up the researcher. During the production process, it is mainly the production of the lithium-ion battery that generates a lot of CO2.
When are electric cars green?
The CO2 footprint of the production and initial consumption of electric cars is therefore not much better compared to combustion cars. However, battery cars are presented as an effective way to combat climate change. The reason is that from a certain level of use the vehicles reach a point where they are better placed than combustion vehicles in terms of CO2 balance.
Frank Maas, spokesman for the Automobile Club Luxembourg (ACL), explains that this point depends on several factors: “The size and place of manufacture of the battery, the weight of the vehicle and also other components such as tires have an influence on this point. As a car has narrower tyres, the rolling resistance is lower. With large tyres, this resistance is significantly higher, and therefore energy consumption also increases.
Frank Maas gives an example: For a small electric car – which weighs little, runs on narrower tires and has a smaller battery – the point is reached more quickly. “Theoretically, the small car already has a better CO2 balance at 15,000 or 25,000 kilometers traveled compared to a similar thermal model.” For a larger car, for example an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle), the car will only be “green” between 80,000 and 100,000 kilometers, because the battery and tires are larger and the weight is significantly higher, adds Frank Maas.
A small car theoretically has a better CO₂ balance at 15,000 kilometers compared to a combustion model.
Frank Maas
ACL
In addition, “the threshold for an EV to go ‘green’ depends on the electricity mix in the country in question,” adds Gerry Wagner, spokesperson for the House of Automobile (HOA).
Francesco Viti explained in February in an interview with Luxembourg words that Luxembourg bought most of its electricity abroad. This energy would not always come from renewable sources, which would ensure a better CO2 balance for electric vehicles. “We therefore only transform energy, to present it as clean at the end, when it is consumed by electric vehicles,” he criticized. He emphasizes that there must be better solutions. Because the issue of respect for the environment does not only concern electric cars. “We need to reduce the number of kilometers we travel and invest in different energy mixes.”
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Do electric cars need a workshop less often?
Only last year were electric cars included in the ranking of the German car club ADAC (so far only four models have exceeded the stock threshold of at least 7,000 cars). Other models are not included in the statistics because electric cars are usually new or only a few years old. ACL, for its part, indicates that there are no statistics yet on the repair costs of electric cars. However, the models in the ADAC ranking have so far had a low number of errors.
Gerry Wagner, a spokesman for the House of Automobile, further observes that electric cars require less maintenance, “because they have far fewer moving parts.” Frank Maas follows: “The internal combustion engine, the gearbox and the entire exhaust cleaning system are eliminated in an electric car.” However, it must be taken into account that electric cars also have wearing parts such as shock absorbers, drive shafts and brakes, which require regular maintenance.
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Francesco Viti continues: “Electric cars are more expensive to maintain, because the materials are lighter and the entire electrical system is complex,” describes Francesco Viti. But individual repairs on an electric car, such as changing tires, are not necessarily more expensive than on a combustion model, explains Frank Maas. The ACL specialist points out that it may even happen that certain parts, such as brake discs or pads, need to be replaced less often. The reason: recovery. When the driver of the electric car takes his foot off the gas pedal, the car’s engine brakes autonomously, explains Frank Maas. This drives a generator that produces electricity, which in turn extends the life of the battery. “If we use it correctly, we will use fewer brakes.”
But if it comes to repairing the battery, it can be expensive. The price range is wide, sometimes up to several thousand euros in this scenario. The positive, however, is that the battery is not as fragile. Uni researcher Francesco Viti explains that “an electric motor can travel many more kilometers in its lifetime than an internal combustion car. This means that electric cars can in principle be used for longer.” This is also confirmed by the manufacturer’s long warranty on the battery: “Sometimes the warranty is eight years or 180,000 kilometers. This shows that the manufacturers are also confident that the battery will present few problems, explains Frank Maas.
The Tesla Model 3 is not doing well
Every year, the German Technical Inspection Association (TÜV) publishes a report on used cars that are two to three years old. More than ten million technical inspections were analyzed last year. For the first time, the technical controls of the Tesla Model 3 appear there. However, the electric car does not get good results: The model has the highest percentage of errors (14.7%) under technical control and thus comes in last place. The most common problem will be with brakes and axle suspension.
Not all workshops repair electric cars
Electric car drivers not only have to look for a free charging station, but also a garage to carry out a repair. When researching the maintenance of an electric car, and looking for a garage that can share experiences on this subject, one thing stands out: not all independent garages repair electric cars.
We do not have the right specialists to repair electric cars.
Moldlux workshop
Repair and maintenance of electric cars requires specific knowledge, especially with regard to propulsion systems or batteries. An employee of the Moldlux workshop in Bertrange describes: “For now, we do not have the right specialists to repair electric cars.” In addition, it requires an additional license. The Marchione garage in Luxembourg also does not repair the electrical system of electric cars, but only performs “external interventions” on the cars, such as changing tires, an employee explains.
This article originally appeared on the website of Luxembourg words.
Processing: Mélodie Mouzon
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