Commentary: CO₂ and Common Sense

It’s really just a matter of common sense. But we’re talking about environmental policy, climate change, and ideology—not reason and science. Right now, the focus is once again on the dogma coming out of Brussels: an electric car’s CO₂ emissions are zero. Enough already! But even electric cars, their batteries, and the electricity they run on don’t fall from the sky without carbon dioxide (CO₂)—not even in Brussels. The Technical University of Munich (TUM) will demonstrate this once again on Tuesday with a study that synthesizes all existing research. The Munich scientists will now challenge the EU Commission’s “that’s it” definition on Tuesday, media reported over the weekend.

In their analysis of 19 studies and 47 scenarios, the Munich-based researchers, in their study titled “Defossilization Instead of Decarbonization,” apparently conclude that, over their entire life cycle, battery-electric passenger cars emit on average only 41 percent less CO₂ or greenhouse gas emissions than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles—meaning they do not meet the Brussels definition of “zero-emission.” Furthermore, the TUM study apparently concludes that by 2030, 78 percent of the total vehicle fleet will still be powered by internal combustion engines.

Whatever the exact figures from Munich may be—one thing is clear: even a new dispute among consultants, experts, and study authors cannot obscure the fact that there is currently no CO₂-free powertrain. If we still want to continue pursuing our climate goals, we will have to become more tolerant of other propulsion systems and their progress in reducing greenhouse gases. It’s time to put physics before politics and get used to the term “technology neutrality”—which, unfortunately, is politically incorrect these days.

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This opinion will come as no surprise to anyone reading this. Our authors have often pointed out the possibilities offered by diversity in propulsion systems and fuels. As a result, we’ve become well-versed in weathering online backlash, but we remain staunch advocates of electric mobility. (aum).