12-12-19, 01:13 PM
Quote:No they are not.The heat generated by the engine is only relevant in terms of efficiency – and crucially the fuel generating the heat.
Electric motors emit heat and noise while in use, batteries emit heat - hence not emission free. It's not wise to discount heat emissions - global warming is upon us and millions of running engines or electric motors do not help. I don't know which runs cooler, I suspect an electric setup runs significantly cooler than an equivalent powered fossil fuel engine so perhaps there's a step in the right direction there.
That's just the power unit however. The rest of the vehicle emits brake dust particles, tyre rubber particles, light emissions (not to be discounted lightly either) while in use. There's also consumables to consider - bearings, fluids, shocks etc. that are replaced during the working life of a vehicle.
As stated above the electricity powering the vehicle does not materialise by magic, it comes at a cost. The same is true for vehicle manufacture and decommission, it is considered that these two parts of vehicle life contribute up to 90% (!) of total pollutants during the life of a vehicle. (This is difficult to measure apparently.) (The amount of virgin natural resources consumed to make one vehicle is depressing.)
To say that a vehicle is emissions free is just plain wrong. Electric vehicles are tail pipe emissions free, that's more accurate.
Basically, it’s about de-carbonisation. We have to stop emitting CO2.
Transport can be decarbonised by,
1. Increased electricity generation.
2. Making sure our electricity industry becomes renewable ie carbon neutral.
3. Switching to electric cars.
By achieving that our transport system would de decarbonised. Free of CO2 emissions – hence emission free.