?Well to wheel? assessment needed for road vehicles

The study, by the Dutch consultancy CE Delft, was intended to look at ways of boosting the market for electric vehicles, but it could have more far-reaching consequences. Current regulations are based on tailpipe emissions, whereas the study’s authors say each form of propulsion should be assessed on its ‘well to wheel’ impact. Only then would the full environmental costs and benefits of electric cars be reflected in legislation.

The study says the EU’s current policy of viewing electric cars as having zero emissions is harming the competitiveness of electric vehicles, and creating unfair competition with other types of non-fossil-fuel vehicles. The authors also call for a better methodology to calculate the amount of electricity used by electric cars and how much of it comes from renewable sources.

www.transportenvironment.org/