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April 22 was Earth Day. The usual message of taking care of the planethas been made more urgent by the IPCC report. Ars will examine the technologies we cover, from cars and chipmaking, this year to see how we can increase their sustainability while minimizing their impact on the climate.
Many people feel that purchasing an electric vehicle puts a stake into the ground.If I’m going out to drive around town, I will do it while reducing the carbon footprint.
The days of burning gasoline are gone. You might be able to see the new age of instant torque and electrons right next to your new vehicle.
As with traditional vehicles, EVs have different impacts on the environment. You can easily see the specs and size of the GMC Hummer E-Vehicle EV to understand why some automakers are willing take the powertrain. It’s not for efficiency.
Not all EPA testing are equal
The Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel consumption ratings can help you determine which EVs are most efficient. The EPA rates electric vehicles based on how much energy they use to travel 100 mph. A vehicle that uses less electricity is more efficient. According to the EPA, the 2022 Tesla Model 3 RWD consumes 25 kWh per 100 km, while the 2022 Audi etron S (with 21-inch or 22-inch wheels), uses 52 kWh per 100 km. (Note: Larger wheels can reduce the vehicle’s range.
These are the five most efficient vehicles available for model year 2022 based on EPA’s measurement od energy per 100 miles
- 2022 Tesla Model 3 RWD 25 kWh
- 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring 26 kWh
- 2022 Chevy Bolt 28 kWh
- 2022 Hyundai Kona Elec: 28 kWh
- 2022 Tesla Model S: 28 Wh
The Model Y and Bolt EUV were the top ten finishes, followed by the Kia EV6, Hyundai Iniq 5, and finally the Kia Niro. All of these vehicles used 30 kWh per 100 miles or less.
These are impressive numbers but there is something more to consider: the adjustment factor used for EPA range data. All EVs are attached to dynamometers (like a treadmill) and run until the battery runs out. It’s not a true test of real-world driving conditions, as the vehicles don’t have to deal directly with changes in elevation, wind, asphalt discrepancies and all other problems that might occur on real roads.
Some automakers use the EPA’s 30-percent adjustment coefficient to complicate matters. If a vehicle travels 500 m on the dynamometer, then the automaker takes a 30% hit. This reduces the range by 150 m, giving you 350 mpg on the EPA cycle. It is the same method used by Hyundai Kia and GM.
Lucid and Tesla do something different. They do additional runs on dynamometers and are allowed to use the results to improve adjustment factors. Those numbers can help increase their range numbers.
While the EVs mentioned above are certainly efficient, not all of them are being tested in the exact same way. This can lead to discrepancies.
Factory impact
Automakers are moving to battery-electric vehicles and promoting their current or future carbon neutral factories. A cleaner factory will result in a cleaner vehicle. Although it is a good plan, many OEMs have not yet implemented it.
Tesla seems to have the greatest difficulty in this area at Fremont, where it manufactures all of the vehicles it sells here in the United States. The automaker will be closing its Fremont factory in February 2022. Settlement reached with the EPA regarding violations of the Clean Air ActThese dates range from 2016 to 2019. The data covers 2016 to 2019.
The company’s new Arizona plant is where the Lucid Air was built. The 500-acre Casa Grande, Arizona plant was established in the fall of 2021. However the company has yet to announce any carbon-neutral or other energy-reducing initiatives.
The Kia EV6 was made in Hwaseong Korea. Kia announced that the plant has improved its chemical handling and is now using alternative products to make vehicles.
Hyundais Ioniq 5 & Kona Electric were both built at Ulsan Plant 1 South Korea. The company announced plans to make all locations carbon-neutral and run on 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. It’s still a long way from being realized.
Finally, the Chevy Bolt EUV (and the Chevy Bolt) are both manufactured at the Orion Michigan plant. The plant uses landfill gas to power it.
However, other OEMs are doing better. Although the Porsche Taycan doesn’t make the top 10, the Zuffenhausen factory of the company is carbon neutral and all electricity is generated from renewable sources. It’s possible for an automaker achieve its factory efficiency goals, but it may take more time for some.
Porsche
