Omissions in Emissions Knowledge

(Aspen Group/SUSTAIN Fuel) Brits have a blind spot for EV emissions as the Government progresses towards zero-emissions goals -- Over a quarter of Brits (27%) wrongly believe that driving an electric vehicle (EV) is completely emission-free, research has revealed.

Only 46% were aware of the emissions associated with driving EVs, either through the vehicles’ production or the non-renewable electricity that can be used to charge them. A further 27% failed to know either way.

According to the survey* of 2,000 Brits, conducted by sustainable technology fuel brand SUSTAIN, younger drivers were less likely to recognise any emissions beyond the tailpipe. Twice as many 18-25-year-olds mistakenly thought driving an EV was completely emission-free as those aged 55 and over (34% vs 16%).

Those who drive an EV were also more likely to believe the misconception, with 73% of EV drivers believing such vehicles are emissions-free compared to just 25% of petrol drivers.

The news follows the Government’s recent announcement to progress plans for all new cars and vans to be 100% ‘zero emission’ by 2035. In response, industry experts are calling for more transparency regarding the total emissions involved in a vehicle’s life cycle and the use of wider sustainable solutions to support the transition away from fossil fuel.

David Richardson, a director at SUSTAIN, said:
“Because we can’t see any emissions coming from a tailpipe on an electric vehicle, people often assume there aren’t any associated with running it. However, that simply isn’t the case for most drivers. For instance, although the UK electricity grid currently has a reasonable proportion of renewable energy (roughly 40%ⁱ), we still rely heavily on gas-fired power stations. So, the process of generating electricity to charge an EV is typically not CO₂-free.“

“Of course, EVs do play a role in us reaching our carbon reduction goals. But, as with all fuel technologies, we must recognise all emissions in a full life cycle analysis. This way we can calculate their environmental impact, compare our options correctly and avoid any further confusion in the public domain.”

The misunderstandings around EV emissions are just one of many highlighted in SUSTAIN’s research conducted to explore the gaps in public knowledge around sustainability in motoring. A staggering 61% of motorists didn’t know there are options outside of EVs, such as sustainable fuel, for reducing the use of fossil fuels in passenger cars.

Commenting on the research, Professor Steve Sapsford BSc (Hons) C.Eng FIMechE, added:
“If we want to secure a better future for our planet, we must increase the levels of education and transparency around sustainable solutions in transport. From EVs to biofuels, there are a plethora of options we could utilise to reduce the use of fossil fuels in our vehicles, not just the new ones but our existing fleet too. If we neglect to tackle the 30 million ICE cars already on our roads, we miss an opportunity to increase our greenhouse gas savings with immediate effect.”

“We need to evaluate every technology’s effectiveness using a full life cycle approach to identify when and where the most appropriate options can be used. The current narrative could leave us ill-informed and ill-equipped to reach our goals. It’s time we did things differently.”

The brand behind the research is SUSTAIN, created by bespoke fuel specialist Coryton. SUSTAIN uses advanced second-generation biofuel components manufactured from agricultural waste, such as straw, by-products or waste from crops which wouldn’t be used for consumption. Such biofuels utilise the carbon that already exists in our atmosphere, recycled by the plants they grow, rather than releasing additional CO₂ that is currently locked underground in fossil fuel.

Compatible with any ICE engine currently using standard forecourt petrol, SUSTAIN has been used to fuel cars, motorsport, heavy goods vehicles and boats, whilst supporting the transition away from fossil fuel.

*Independent research conducted for SUSTAIN by Censuswide on a sample of 2,031 nationally representative UK general consumers, aged 18+.

ⁱhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5fa3dbe1e90e070423bf7911/renewable-fuel-statistics- 2019-final-report.pdf READ MORE