Electric cars on the test bench

Electric cars on the test bench

More than 80,000 electric cars are on Austria's roads today - the number has doubled since 2020. To achieve the ambitious goal of climate neutrality by 2040, e-mobility is not the only solution, but it is an important piece of the puzzle. The Climate and Energy Fund, in cooperation with the Federal Environment Agency and the VCÖ, answers the ten most important questions on the subject of electromobility in order to dispel the numerous myths or simply misinformation circulating in the public. According to calculations by the Federal Environment Agency, the approximately seven million gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles in this country are responsible for around 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions (data as of 2020). In order to reverse the trend towards environmentally friendly and energy-efficient forms of transport or means of transport, a wide range of measures are necessary.

Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler is convinced: “The people in Austria are ready for the change.” E-mobility would ensure cleaner air, quieter cities and regions and more climate protection. An analysis of the life cycle assessment carried out by the Climate and Energy Fund shows how environmentally friendly electric cars actually are on the roads. Conclusion: If you look at the entire life cycle from production to operation and energy supply to disposal, electric cars cause up to 79 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than comparable vehicles with combustion engines. However, the prerequisite is that only electricity from renewable energy sources is used. The point about raw materials was also taken into account in the fact check. It is clear that all vehicles, regardless of drive technology, require finite raw materials in production and operation. In the case of electric vehicles, it is primarily lithium and cobalt for battery production that are viewed critically. Global social and environmental standards as well as recycling quotas are becoming increasingly important in the public discussion.

E-mobility is subject to dynamic change; the expensive electricity storage systems in vehicles are constantly becoming cheaper due to economies of scale and innovative production processes. The overall cost comparison in the fact check shows that the currently higher purchase price in combination with the significantly lower operating costs will lead to a cost advantage in favor of electric cars in just a few years. Public funding for the switch was also taken into account in this calculation. Holger Heinfellner, mobility expert at the Federal Environment Agency and co-author of the fact check: "Electric cars have many advantages: They are low-emission, consume less energy and can be operated with renewable energy. If you also use a smaller battery, you save money, conserve resources and protect the climate."