victorian electric vehicle trial mid-term report - Department of Transport

Based upon current information,the advantage of electric vehiclesover petrol engine vehicles grows asthe conditions tend towards more‘stop-start’ driving. Given the stronginfluence of vehicle energy economyon overall environmental impacts,better information and guidance onthe selection of vehicle technologies,particularly electric vehicles, so asto be ‘fit-for-purpose’ could providesignificant benefits.Other observations of note as relateto greenhouse gas emissions fromEV operation include:• As a result of the Victorianelectricity generation mixcharacteristics, ‘demand’charging during peak periods ofelectricity use is likely to be oflower greenhouse gas emissionsintensity than ‘smart’ chargingduring off-peak periods• The most reliable, if complicated,way to charge an EV using gridconnectedon-site renewableenergy generation such as a homesolar system, is to voluntarilysurrender the associatedrenewable energy certificates• By comparison, the GreenPowerpurchasing program was foundto be the simplest, most effectiveway of using renewable energyfor electric vehicle charging,even for those with on-siterenewable energy generationsuch as home solar• Complications associated withelectricity metering and billingarrangements for publiclyaccessibleelectric vehiclecharging facilities highlightthe need for transparency anddiligence in support of renewableenergy charging strategies.Consideration of the impacts that maybe transferred elsewhere throughelectric vehicle uptake in Victoriahighlighted both existing and emergingrisks to the environment. The EVbattery and electric motor may causeharmful impacts to land, water and airquality if using raw materials and/orproduction processes in locations thathave either weak or poorly-enforcedenvironmental regulation. However,these risks are already evident for oiland rare earth metal extraction and/orprocessing for ‘conventional’ vehiclesoperating on Victorian roads.Nevertheless, greater transparencywith regards to the environmentalimpacts from EV battery productionwould go some way towards ensuringall of the nominal environmentalbenefits from EV uptake translate toreality. A further sensitivity relatesto battery replacement timeframes,which have the effect of multiplyingthe uncertain impacts associated withbattery production.8070EV / Vic grid energyEV / renewable energyICEV60GHG emissions (tCO 2e)504030201002012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031Year2032Figure 53. Cumulative greenhouse gas emissions calculated over an average Victorian vehicle lifetime for an ICEV and acomparable electric vehicle operating on both the Victorian electricity grid mix and renewable energy. The step change in bothEV calculations reflects impacts arising from the single battery replacement forecast.