1. Electric cars are the most efficient to drive
2. Electric cars are increasing their range
3. Electric cars have the best climate footprint
4. Electric cars protect their surroundings
5. Electric cars facilitate the energy revolution
The drive system question - The future of the car: The five greatest strengths of e-mobility
Does this sound familiar? Friends, colleagues and family members discussing whether electric cars are truly the future. Would other drive systems – particularly hydrogen – not be a better solution? Most scientists believe this question has already been answered. “It has been shown in many studies that electric drive systems are by far the most efficient methods for powering vehicles,” says Prof. Maximilian Fichtner, battery expert at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). We have summarised what you need to know in five points – the great strengths of e-mobility.
It has been shown in many studies that electric drive systems are by far the most efficient methods for powering vehicles.
Prof. Maximilian Fichtner
1. Electric cars are the most efficient to drive
Of all the drive systems under discussion, electric motors make the most of the energy used. “70 percent of the energy generated is transferred to the wheels,” says KIT expert Fichtner.
The efficiency level of other drive systems:
- hydrogen: 15 to 18 percent
- e-fuels (synthetic fuel): 5 to 8 percent
- modern combustion engines: 20 to 24 percent
Energy efficiency: in this regard, the e-motor – to be seen here in the sporty ID.5 GTX – trumps all other drive systems.
The electric drive system benefits from the fact that it works according to a simple principle: electricity, such as from wind power, is stored in the battery and transferred to wheel-mounted electric motors as required. Hydrogen, on the other hand, undergoes a complex production, transport, and conversion process, before it even reaches the fuel cells in the car. This results in high energy losses.
2. Electric cars are increasing their range
Electric vehicles already offer practical ranges for everyday use. Take the ID.3, for example: the compact Volkswagen model can cover up to 558 kilometres with the 77-kWh battery and even with the slightly smaller 58-kWh battery, it is still capable of up to 429 kilometres (both according to WLTP).
Experts believe that technological advances, such as improvements in storage material and the development of batteries, will significantly increase these distances. “Even 1,000 kilometres of range is quite possible,” says Fichtner. Volkswagen is also working with partner QuantumScape on the development of solid cell technology. The goal: even longer ranges and shorter charging times.
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One charge – many kilometres of driving: the compact Volkswagen ID.3.
3. Electric cars have the best climate footprint
Battery-powered electric cars have the smallest climate footprint of all drive systems, as has been proven in a multitude of scientific studies. One such study was carried out jointly by three renowned research institutes in 2020: the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC), the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI).
The key message: the climate benefits of electric cars have increased considerably in recent years. The reasons for this include advances in battery production, longer battery lives, and the higher proportion of renewable energies in Europe.
A study by the Bundeswehr University Munich, presented in 2022, reached similar conclusions: “It is clear from the results that the comparison of individual emission sections within the entire lifecycle of a product has little meaning if you wish to debate the climate compatibility of different vehicles. For example, battery-powered electric cars have the highest emissions in production, but in the overall analysis including use and recycling, they perform better than classic internal combustion vehicles,” says the university.
In addition, a lifecycle analysis performed by the Think Tank Transport & Environment concluded that a battery-powered electric vehicle manufactured and charged with the average EU electricity mix expected in 2030 would produce 78 per cent fewer emissions over its entire life cycle than a combustion engine car.
4. Electric cars protect their surroundings
E-cars avoid or reduce local emissions – such as soot, nitrogen oxide and noise.
Quietly through the countryside – no problem with the Volkswagen ID.4.
Take the ID.4, for example: sophisticated aeroacoustics make for a particularly quiet ride in Volkswagen’s electric SUV. This is made possible by details like the shape of the wing mirror casings and complex noise reduction measures on the chassis. These reduce airborne and structure-borne sound, which is emitted by the drive system, chassis, and tyres, thus contributing to the impression of almost silent power delivery.
5. Electric cars facilitate the energy revolution
Unlike with hydrogen, a complete shift to electric cars would significantly reduce the energy demand of the German transport sector. The reason for this is the high energy efficiency of the electric drive system (see point 1). Based on figures from 2018, expert Fichtner estimates an energy saving of more than three quarters in the transport sector if all cars are fully electric. In contrast, a full shift to hydrogen vehicles would see an increase of roughly a third in the energy demand of the transport sector. In other words: electric cars facilitate the energy transformation, because less green electricity needs to be generated from wind and solar power.
