| ConservAmerica Vice President of Policy Todd Johnston sent the following letter to the editor to the Wall Street Journal in response to an article on the lifecycle emissions of electric vehicles. Johnston authored a ConservAmerica report at the end of last year on pathways to reducing emissions from the transportation sector. To the Editor: The recent infographic article, Are Electric Cars Really Better for the Environment? (3/22), attempts to explain how electric vehicles can produce fewer emissions overall than gas-powered counterparts, but the caveats it notes deserve greater clarification. While acknowledging that CO2 emissions for EVs are front-loaded in their production, the article should’ve more clearly stated how the type of electricity generation used to power the car affects EV emissions. The trend of natural gas replacing coal for electric power generation, for instance, has helped lower emissions 33% from their peak in 2007; however, adding more electricity demand using EVs and in areas still heavily reliant on coal could be counterproductive. Even more important is a lack of recognition about the potential benefits from improvements in carbon intensity of traditional vehicle fuels and vehicles. By 2025, our analysis indicates combustion engine efficiency could improve by 30%, and by 2050, the fuel economy of some internal combustion engine vehicles could double. Just like a good diet, you need to have a balanced approach that includes everything. Alternatively, a crash diet with one food staple means you are more likely to fail. Bottom line: Betting on full electrification as the answer to reducing transportation emissions is not an efficient strategy. Instead, lawmakers should pursue a mix of strategies (similar to scenario “4”, in your article), allowing traditional vehicles to compete with EVs. Technology-neutral policies that foster competition will more rapidly drive innovation and the transition to a lower-carbon economy than the government playing favorites. Limiting technology options from the market may set us back at a time when we cannot afford it. Todd Johnston, Vice President, Policy ConservAmerica |
