Electric not Electrified
The past two years have brought renewed hope for tackling the Climate Crisis as more and more nations pledge to tackle meaningful action, and more corporations are being held publicly accountable for their carbon footprint.
However, with the rise of Climate Crisis awareness has come a growing wave of greenwashing – where corporations use misinformation and disinformation to present an environmentally-responsible public image, while doing little to tackle their emissions.
A key part of this has been the creation of new terms that appear to be green to well-intentioned consumers, but which hide the reality of how harmful a product is.
In today’s article we look at the difference between ‘electric’ and ‘electrified’ cars, and why the definition between the two needs to be made considerably clearer.
What Is ‘Electric’
When we at IrishEVs talk about an electric car, we talk specifically about a battery electric vehicle (BEV) – that is a car which is solely powered by electricity.
The benefits of electric vehicles are significant, as they do not themselves produce any emissions which means that they are better for human health and for the Climate Crisis, as transport accounts for around 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland.
Furthermore, the average BEV will have offset the emissions of its production after 30,000 km – whereas fossil fuel vehicles will continue to create emissions every second that they are in use.
Another key benefit of BEVs is that they have the capacity to be run solely on renewable energy – whether that’s large-scale wind energy from the grid, or from solar power at home. In this way, they offer the potential to break the stranglehold of the fossil fuel industry and provide clean transport – whether as public transport vehicles or as private cars.
Battery electric vehicles are also significantly more efficient than petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicles, as they convert at least 60% of their energy into propulsion, whereas even the most efficient ICEs convert just 17-21% of their fuel into power.
This also makes BEVs significantly cheaper to use – with running costs around 74% lower per year, according to the SEAI.
Graph showing the relative efficiencies of vehicles by fuel type. Credit: Transport & Environment
What is ‘Electrified’
The term ‘electrified car’ has become more prevalent in recent years, and has become a catch-all term for any vehicle which has even the smallest electric motor in it.
This means that a hybrid vehicle which spends the vast majority of its time using fossil fuels, and only uses a battery and motor at very low speeds, can be classed as an ‘electrified vehicle’ in marketing campaigns.
A classic marketing technique - aligning plug-in hybrids with renewable energy to make cars appear to be ‘green’. Credit: VW
This is crucial for car manufacturers, as they are trying to tap into the rapidly growing demand for battery electric vehicles, but are able to pass off more polluting, cheaper-to-make vehicles as ‘electrified’.
This is a classic greenwashing approach, as it makes the consumer believe that they are acting responsibly and making a choice that will be beneficial for their carbon footprint – however, they are being sold a lie.
Hybrid vehicles in all forms are still internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, as they are still reliant on burning fossil fuels to work. And this reliance on fossil fuels means the continuation of an industry that destroys land to extract and process oil, and which accounts for vast amounts of CO2 emissions in the exploration, extraction, production and transport of petrol and diesel.
There is only one possible exception when it comes to ‘electrified’ vehicles – hydrogen cars. However, the energy intensity to make hydrogen fuel, the fact that it is still dependent on fuel miles to deliver to refuelling points, and the exorbitant expense of hydrogen cars, means that these ‘electrified’ vehicles are not yet viable – and aren’t likely to be for some time.
As such, wherever you see the term ‘electrified’, you should be aware that battery electric vehicles are being grouped with other cars that do not offer the same ecological benefits.
Why It’s Time To Abandon ‘Electrified’
We believe that it is time to abandon the idea of grouping vehicles under the ‘electrified’ banner – separating out BEVs from hyrbids and other internal combustion engine vehicles – and are calling on the Irish media to follow this approach.
This separation is crucial not only in helping consumers to discern between those vehicles which are reliant on fossil fuels, and those which are not, but also in understanding our progress in meeting the emissions goals set out in the Paris Agreement.
The Irish Government has set a target of 1 million EV sales by 2030 in order to reach its climate commitments and reduce transport emissions. While this once seemed like an unachievable figure, the growing demand for BEVs from drivers led to a 16% annual increase in sales in 2020, despite overall car sales dropping by 25%.
In fact, BEVs accounted for 11.28% of all cars sold in March 2021, with 1,046 registrations – up 183% on the previous year. This is a year-on-year trend with exponential sales of BEVs that looks set to continue in the years ahead.
However, demand for BEVs may actually be higher than these statistics tell us.
The fear, uncertainty and doubt sown by manufacturers about BEVs – and exploited by the promotion of ‘electrified’ vehicles – may hide the true number of people who want to drive clean, efficient vehicles.
By eradicating the use of ‘electrified’ in the media and in marketing materials, we can help Irish consumers better understand the implications of their vehicle choices on the Climate Crisis, and avoid reporting the sales of harmful hybrids as something ‘greener’.
Breakdown of Ireland’s emissions. Credit: CIE
Of course, it is important to state that battery electric cars are no silver bullet, and that the fight against the Climate Crisis is better served by encouraging more people to use public transport, as well as engaging in active travel – such as cycling and walking.
However, with car culture being so prominent, and emissions from the transport sector accounting for a fifth of Ireland’s total greenhouse gas emissions – as well as Ireland having one of the highest diesel vehicle ownerships in the EU – the move to battery electric vehicles powered by clean, renewable energy is an important part of the transition.
What To Read Next
Hybrids: A Harmful ‘Green’ Myth
A new study has found that emissions from plug-in hybrid vehicles are up to two-and-a-half times greater than official tests suggest
Media Accountability: Cars & Climate Change
It’s time for the media to report on the health & environmental impact of cars, as a leading contributor to climate change
The Rise Of Greenwashing
We investigate the rising culture of greenwashing amongst Irish brands who are using PR to appear "green" in order to increase their profits - while placing the onus for climate action on their customers