26.8.2019. Natural gas cars currently have the best carbon footprint of all common drive types. All the relevant energy expenses over the entire life cycle of a vehicle cut them all together and you are clearly better than gasoline, Diesel and even electric cars – using the current electricity mix.
Only in the case of use of 100 percent renewable electricity, the electric car has a much better balance sheet than all the other drive types. This was the result of a recent life-cycle analysis of the research society Joanneum Research. For the study vehicles were used in the so-called “Golf class”, their annual mileage is 15,000 km, and the total service life of 15 years.
In comparison to the gasoline Cars of the German electricity mix electric car can currently make its advantages only after 127.500 miles or 8.5 years of operation claims. Even worse is the comparison to Diesel is Only of 219,000 kilometers, or 14.6 years, the E-car is, in terms of climate-friendliness better. Particularly the time-consuming and greenhouse-gas intensive production of the batteries if in the case of the balance sheet of the electric cars. So, the high proportion of lignite and coal in the German electricity mix will worsen the carbon footprint of the E-cars. The further Expansion of Renewables and distribution networks can improve this balance.
In order to determine the climate impact, considered various energy expenses. The greenhouse gas emissions generated during vehicle production and recycling. So in the production, provision and consumption of fuel or the stream of emissions flowing in the balance sheet.
The excellent Cut of the natural gas cars can be according to the ADAC, as well conventional drives in the greenhouse gas balance sheet. The share of biomethane from waste would be residual waste materials continue to increase, could be the result even better.
For more information on the current study, there are www.adac.de/klimabilanz
Greenhouse gas emissions for the lifetime of the car (source: ADAC e. V.)
