Electromobility - truly sustainable or not?

Everyone is talking about electromobility. More and more people are turning to the environmentally friendly alternative instead of the classic combustion engines. But what exactly is behind the concept of electromobility and what impact does it have on our environment? Is electromobility really as sustainable as people think? In this article, we want to take a detailed look at the topic of electromobility and highlight the most important aspects. From the basics of electromobility to future prospects and the role of electromobility in the energy transition - we take a holistic look at this important topic and show what opportunities and challenges electromobility holds for us all.

The trend towards climate-friendly alternatives has not stopped at the automotive industry: Initiated by companies like Tesla, electric cars have become an integral part of almost every car manufacturer. Whether it's VW, BMW or Hyundai, anyone who doesn't have an electric vehicle in their catalog today has probably been left behind. Today, you can find thousands of them on the roads of this world, among classic combustion engines. Electromobility has grown strongly in recent years and is constantly being developed further.

One of the most important developments in electromobility in recent years has been the increase in sales figures. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the number of electric vehicles sold doubled every year from 2015 to 2020, reaching a share of 4.6% of all passenger cars sold worldwide in 2020. On the one hand, this is due to improved technologies and growing environmental awareness among the population. The state also plays a role, at least in Germany: anyone opting for an electric-powered car instead of a combustion engine still received a whopping subsidy of a maximum of €9000 until the beginning of 2023. This is another reason why more and more people are opting for the electric motor. In addition, European policymakers are pushing for a law to get rid of combustion engines until 2035 (Verbrenner Aus 2035) as recently decided (with the exception of E-Fuels). So the combustion engine has no future, what about the electric engine?

At first glance, it's pretty obvious to most people: Of course electric cars are more environmentally friendly than gasoline or diesel engines; after all, they don't emit any exhaust gases. Unfortunately, it's not that simple in reality. Here you can find out why this is the case and which factors have to be taken into account in such a calculation.

As already mentioned, one of the advantages of electric cars is that they are locally emission-free, as they do not emit any harmful exhaust gases. This can help improve air quality in cities and protect people's health. Electric cars can also contribute in terms of climate change due to their lower or even zero emissions, especially when charged with renewable energy.

On the flip side, however, it is also important to know that the production of electric cars involves higher CO2 emissions compared to internal combustion engines, especially in the production of batteries. The production of batteries requires rare and expensive raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are often mined under poor working conditions and with a high energy input. In addition, the disposal of batteries is difficult, as they are poorly recyclable. The associated environmental impact is difficult to predict.

Another important factor is the energy source used to charge electric cars. If the electricity comes from fossil fuels, the emissions from generating the electricity can offset the benefits of emission-free driving - in a negative sense.

Nevertheless, studies show that electric cars have a lower environmental impact than internal combustion engines over their entire life cycle. A 2019 study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research concluded that electric cars in Europe produce on average 40% less CO2 emissions than internal combustion engines. This takes into account production, delivery and ultimate fuel or electricity consumption.

Overall, the sustainability of electric cars depends on many factors, such as the production of batteries, the energy source for charging and the disposal of batteries. Nevertheless, studies show that electric cars certainly have the potential to be a more sustainable alternative to the internal combustion engine. As technology develops, it is also likely that electromobility will become even more sustainable than it is now.

And there is one more piece of good news: There are definitely other alternatives to the electric motor. It has to be said that most of these are not developed far enough to be a real option - at least not yet. For example, efforts are also being stepped up to develop a hydrogen engine or biofuels that are suitable for mass use. To what extent these forms of sustainable mobility will play a role in the future is difficult to assess.

As already mentioned, the type of electricity that is ultimately used is particularly important when it comes to the question of whether it is sustainable or not. In Germany, there is now such a dense network of charging stations for e-cars that no one needs to fear being left stranded. By the end of 2022, there were more than 51,000 publicly accessible charging stations. The expansion of e-charging stations is particularly advanced along highways, expressways and in urban areas. The share of green electricity, i.e., the portion of electricity generated from renewable energy sources, is approximately 85% at public charging stations.

However, if you only want to get electricity from renewable energy sources, you have to look more closely when choosing electric charging stations: Some providers, in fact, offer just that. One provider that really does get 100% of its electricity from sustainable sources is Ionity. The company maintains about 500 charging stations throughout Germany and many more throughout Europe. So if you really want to act sustainably when it comes to mobility, you need to look not only for the right car, but also for the right charging station. A little help from us: The Ionity app shows all charging stations in your area and you can even pay via the app!